Omicron Scare: Lockdown in Delhi? What has Health Minister Satyendar Jain to say
Highlight
- Delhi government is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation arising out of Omicron type
- “Graded Response Action” scheme will be implemented as cases and positivity rate increase: Jain
- Jain also cautioned that the Omicron version is far more permeable than the Delta.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said that the Delhi government is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation arising out of the Omicron version. The Omicron version is spreading to some countries, and “we are focused on testing, tracing and isolating passengers”, especially those arriving from overseas from countries affected by the new version.
Satyendar Jain said the Delhi government has already prepared a “graded response action plan”, and as and when the cases and positivity rate increase, it will be implemented accordingly.
He said Delhi government officials are “testing everyone arriving from countries affected by the Omicron variant”, and cautioned that this variant is far more permeable than the delta version, adding the situation “is closely monitored”. is going”.
So far, a total of 27 people have been referred to LNJP Hospital, out of which 17 have been found to be COVID positive, and only one person has been confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant, and investigations are on to find out the others, if any. . He told reporters that all these patients have been admitted to the hospital and many of them do not have symptoms.
Rest 10 people, who tested negative, are those who came in close contact with people who tested positive for Covid.
He said that genome sequencing of samples taken from 12 patients has been done, out of which only one was found positive with Omicron variant, and the results of samples from the remaining five infected patients are expected in 2-3 days.
When asked whether there is a possibility of a lockdown, he ruled out the possibility of a lockdown in the national capital.
“There is no possibility of a lockdown at the moment,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Delhi’s health department.
In the last five months, the positivity rate has been well below 0.50 per cent and daily cases have been in the range of 30-60 or more, he told reporters.
The Delhi Health Minister said that as per the Graded Response System, when the positivity rate reaches 0.50 per cent, that is, five out of 1,000 people tested are positive, the first level of this system will be implemented.
(with PTI inputs)
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