Omicron reaches India: 5 key takeaways from what the Health Ministry said

The Health Ministry of India in its latest press conference has announced that two cases of the new Omicron variant have been detected in Karnataka. The age of the patients reported are 66 and 46. We take a look at 5 important points from the press conference.

1. KARNATAKA REPORTS FIRST 2 OMICRON CASES

According to Joint Health Secretary Lav Agarwal, two individuals aged 66 and 46 have tested positive for the new Omicron variant, technically known as B.1.1.529. This variant was first detected in South Africa on November 24. The official said that infected people have been quarantined and through contact tracing, the people whom they were in contact with, have been tested and their samples sent for genomic sequencing.

2. OMICRON, A VARIANT OF CONCERN

WHO has classified the new variant, Omicron, as a ‘variant of concern’. The variant, which was first detected in the Gauteng province of South Africa and in Botswana, is now present in 29 countries with 373 cases detected, Luv Agarwal said. As per WHO, coronavirus variants which appear to have a high impact apart from transmissibility, are termed variants of concern.

3. FIVE PER CENT MORE INFECTIOUS THAN DELTA

American scientist Eric Topol has said that the new omicron variant might be 5 per cent more infectious than the delta variant because the spike protein of omicron has double mutations than delta. So far, 45-52 mutations have been reported in omicron, and it can outpace both the beta and delta variants.

4. COVID DEATHS DOUBLED IN LAST TWO MONTHS IN EUROPE

The Health Secretary also said that due to laxity in Covid-appropriate behaviour, the number of deaths and Covid cases have doubled in Europe. Cases in Germany are on a rise, and the country is reporting more than 75,000 cases every day. The US has also been reporting more than 45,000 cases each day.

5. DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN

WHO has said wearing of masks, hand hygiene and Covid-appropriate behaviour is very important in these times. The new variant is currently being studied, and more information will emerge in the coming days. It has also said that T-cell immunity might be effective in combating the omicron variant.