Omicron in India: WHO says new Covid variant not as severe, and 8 latest updates
Even before the Omicron variant could spread like fire, the panic spread faster around the world. And truth be told, you can't really blame people for panicking given what Delta was like. However, in what comes across as a bit of a relief, the panic this time around seems a little controlled, as more is revealed about Omicron. Restrictions and safety measures, meanwhile, need to remain in place to ensure the situation doesn’t worsen.
Here are 9 new updates on Omicron in India and elsewhere in the world:
1. NO NEW CASES CONFIRMED
In some good news, India did not detect any new cases of Omicron variant on Tuesday. However, two people who returned from Canada and the UK tested positive for Covid-19 in Madhya Pradesh. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing to confirm whether they have the Omicron variant or not.
Moreover, four other international travellers were admitted to LNJP hospital in New Delhi. LNJP hospital has been reserved for isolating and treating those with Omicron variant. It is not yet confirmed whether the travellers are infected with Omicron.
India so far has 23 Omicron infection cases.
2. IMA WARNS OF A POSSIBLE THIRD WAVE
The Indian Medical Association warned that if necessary precautions are not taken in view of the Omicron variant, India may risk a third wave. They also appealed to the government to give additional vaccine doses to frontline workers and immunocompromised individuals.
3. UP PREPARES FOR OMICRON
The UP government imposed Section 144 in Lucknow district citing Omicron variant concerns. The curfew will remain in place till January 5.
The state government has also started preparing for the Prayagraj Magha Mela 2022. The event begins on January 14-15. The government also said that it will be held on a smaller scale due to the Covid-19 scare.
Preparations underway for 2022 Prayagraj Magh Mela We are alert in view of the emergence of the new COVID variant. We've placed our team on railway station and airport for testing. We'll also set up testing camps at the fair grounds: Sanjay Kumar Khatri, DM Prayagraj (07.12) pic.twitter.com/aAyazhWWSy
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 7, 2021
4. RBI POLICY REVIEW PANEL TO MEET OVER OMICRON SCARE
The Reserve Bank of India policy review committee is set to hold a meeting today amid worldwide panic on the Omicron variant. Reports say the RBI is likely to keep the status quo on borrowing and lending rates. The repo rate has remained unchanged the last 8 consecutive times.
The last time RBI had changed the policy rate was in May 2020. Rates were slashed to a record low to support the pandemic-battered economy.
5. OMICRON CASES RISING ALARMINGLY IN THE UK
The Omicron Covid-19 cases are rising at an alarming rate in the UK. The country reported 101 new cases on Tuesday, taking the total tally to 437. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that initial indications show that the Omicron variant is more infectious than the Delta variant of Covid-19.
6. UK WORRIED ABOUT A ‘STEALTH VERSION’ OF OMICRON
As if Omicron itself wasn’t enough, UK scientists seem to have found a ‘stealth version’ of the new Covid variant. This new version of the variant is making it harder for authorities in the UK to distinguish Omicron from other variants in the quick PCR tests.
The stealth version of Omicron, similar to the original new variant, but lacking a specific genetic code, is not showing up on lab-based PCR tests. This has hindered the authorities from flagging probable Omicron cases as soon as possible.
7. DR FAUCI BREAKS DOWN THE FACTS ON OMICRON
US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci broke down a few facts on what we know and what we don’t know on the new Omicron variant. He said that it is definitely more infectious when compared to the Delta variant.
Dr Fauci also said that he thinks the variant can evade the immunity provided by the current Covid-19 vaccines. However, he said more data and research on the subject is underway to make concrete conclusions.
With regards to the severity of Covid-19 infection with Omicron, he said that it is less severe than the Delta variant.
8. WHO ALLAYS FEARS ON VACCINE EFFICACY
While Dr Fauci said that initial observations seem to show that Omicron can evade vaccine immunity, the World Health Organization differed in its opinion. It said on Tuesday that the new variant is ‘unlikely to dodge the protection given by Covid-19 vaccines’.
WHO also corroborated Dr Fauci’s comments that the new variant doesn’t seem to be as harmful as the Delta variant.
9. HOSPITALISATION INCREASING IN CHILDREN
South Africa, in a report to the World Health Organization, said that they are witnessing a surge in hospitalisation among Covid-positive children. This comes at a time when the world is worried about what the Omicron variant will bring to the table.
So far, children and adolescents had shown moderate illness to Covid-19 infection. This report poses questions on whether Covid-19 has become more severe among children.