Covid Third Wave: Stealth Omicron is here to steal your plans. Once again
After straight five days, India has reported less than 3 lakh cases in a day. A total of 2,55,874 fresh Covid cases were reported this morning, which is 16.39% lower than Monday's tally. The country’s daily positivity rate is also significantly lower than yesterday, at 15.52%.
Before you start to believe that the end of Covid is near, let us tell you that a new sub-strain of Omicron has been detected. Yeah, say a quiet RIP to your (new) plans.
1. NEW SUB-STRAIN OF OMICRON
The new sub-strain of the Omicron variant has been detected in the UK. The sub-strain is being called stealth Omicron. More than 40 countries have reported stealth Omicron cases.
This new sub-Strain cannot be detected with an RT-PCR.
According to the World Health Organization, the Omicron variant has three sub-strains - BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3.
BA.1 is the dominant sub-strain across the world. Stealth is the BA.2 sub-strain that can spread quickly.
In Denmark, almost half of the country’s active Covid cases are of the BA.2 sub-strain. More than 400 cases of the stealth Omicron have been identified in England.
Other than UK and Denmark, Sweden, Norway and a total of 40 countries including India have reported stealth Omicron cases.
Now, let’s take a look at the latest Covid updates in India and elsewhere:
2. FEWER CASES THAN YESTERDAY
India reported 2,55,874 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours. The number is lower than yesterday. However, the number of deaths due to Covid has jumped from 491 to 614 over the past 24 hours.
As per the Health Ministry data, 2,67,753 people recovered from the virus and 16,49,108 tests were conducted on January 24.
3. DROP IN MAHARASHTRA AND DELHI
Maharashtra: The state has also reported 12,519 less cases Monday than Sunday. Maharashtra logged a total of 28,286 new Covid cases yesterday as per the data available. 36 fresh deaths were also reported in the state.
Delhi: The National Capital’s positivity rate has also gone down from 13% to 11.79%. Delhi reported 5,760 fresh Covid Cases on January 24 which is 37% less than Sunday.
4. RELAXATION IN DELHI SOON
As Delhi has reported fewer cases yesterday, the Delhi government is planning to lift Covid restrictions. Traders in the National Capital have requested CM Arvind Kejriwal to remove the odd-even rule for shops and weekend curfew.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor denied a similar request. Now the Delhi Disaster Management Authority will conduct a meeting on Thursday to make decisions after analysing the current scenario.
AROUND THE WORLD
5. NO COVID TEST FOR VACCINATED TRAVELLERS IN UK
The UK government has provided a major relaxation to the travel industry. Travellers will no longer have to undergo an RT-PCR test post-arrival if they are fully vaccinated.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “To show that this country is open for business, open for travellers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated if they have been double vaccinated.”
This norm will come into effect from February 11.