Omicron multiplies rapidly but does not cause ‘very serious disease’: top doctor
Highlight
- b.1.1.529 The covid variant, or omicron, was first detected in South Africa in November
- It was designated as a ‘type of concern’ by the World Health Organization
- The WHO said that the Omicron variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. India has registered over 55 cases
Dr Rakesh Aggarwal, director of Puducherry’s Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), said the omicron version of COVID-19 is rapidly progressing, but so far it does not cause very serious disease. He said that people need to be alert and take precautions like wearing masks, avoiding gatherings to prevent the spread of infection.
On the need for booster doses in the country amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, he said, “It is being monitored by experts in the field of vaccination. As of now, boosters don’t seem to have much of a role. Our population in the country A large part of the U.S. has been exposed to the virus and has also received vaccines.”
Notably, the World Health Organization has stated that the Omicron variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. According to WHO Director-General Tedros A Ghebreyesus, a total of 77 countries have reported omicron cases so far, but “the reality is that this type is probably yet to be detected in some countries”.
In India too, the Omicron variant caseload is increasing every day. There are currently 57 omicron cases in the country. On Wednesday, West Bengal reported its first omicron case, as a 7-year-old boy tested positive for the coronavirus variant, according to the state health department. Four more cases of Omicron were reported in Delhi on Tuesday while eight cases of the new variant were reported from Maharashtra. The total number of omicron type cases in Maharashtra now stands at 28. Other states where the omicron variant has been reported include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh.
Srinivasa Rao, Director of Public Health, Government of Telangana, told ANI that two cases of the Omicron variant have been reported from non-risk countries in the state. A man from Somalia and a woman from Kenya have tested positive for Omicron. He came to Hyderabad via Dubai. Rao said government officials were tracking one more person.
Meanwhile, the health ministers of Karnataka and Jharkhand have also said that Omicron is highly contagious.
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said, “We should keep our guard up. Masking and social distancing should be followed. It is unfortunate that people are not wearing masks, we will pass advice and rules on the same.”
“About Omicron, WHO, ICMR has said that it has 7 times higher spread potential than the delta variant. I do not think the impact of this variant has been accurately assessed yet. We are taking necessary measures – Testing, tracking in place,” Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta said.
b.1.1.1.529 The covid variant or omicron, which was first discovered in South Africa in November, was designated as a ‘type of concern’ by the World Health Organization.
Read more: How to Protect Yourself from Omicron if You’re Already Sick
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