New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): With increasing cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant in the country, Dr Puneet Misra, Professor of Community Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi on Saturday advised people not to be panic but to remain alert.
Misra mentioned that although the new Omicron variant has higher transmissibility, but it is causing less severe disease compared to the Delta variant. “It is seen that Omicron‘s Transmissibility is quite high as compared to Delta variant but with all the evidence we have right now, It is not causing that severe disease as compared to the delta,” he said. “I feel that as of now, there are a good number of people in India who have some kind of immunity either from the natural infection or through the vaccine but still, a huge number of people has no immunity as we have 1.3 billion individuals so there is a need to remain alert,” Misra told ANI.
The AIIMS doctor advised people not to panic but be cautious and follow the COVID-appropriate behavior. “Don’t panic but be alert. One should not go into panic mode by name omicron But yes, one should be alert and keep on taking all precautions because this is the new variant and we have limited knowledge about it,” he said. “So alert means that we should take all the precautions which we are taking for the last two years by following COVID appropriate behavior, and if you’re not vaccinated then go and get the vaccines, both the doses and avoid going to crowded places unnecessarily,” he added.
While talking about the symptoms observed in the Omicron variant, Misra also mentioned that with the evidence available till now the chances of getting severe Pneumonia is less as compared to the Delta variant. “Symptoms are almost the same as we have seen in other variants.
Different variants might have different predominant symptoms. So with this(omicron) variant, it has been seen that it is a milder variant and some evidence say that it is multiplying in the throat as compared to the lungs so might be fewer chances of getting severe pneumonia,” he said. “Otherwise, symptoms like sore throat, fever, malaise, weakness and loss of smell, loss of taste are the there,” he added. (ANI)
COVID-19: New variant might be less severe, high transmissibility rate is worrying factor, says Indian health experts
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): As the number of COVID-19 variants omicron cases reaches over 100 in India, the Indian health experts said that the new variant might be less severe, however, the high transmissibility rate could be a worrying factor. The health experts have asked the country to be cautious the same way it was during the second wave of COVID-19. They also emphasized the need for a booster dose and had asked the people to follow a COVID-appropriate behavior.
Experts emphasized that the administration must keep a close watch this time, and institute tough preventive measures (if required) early. Dr. G C Khilnani, Chairman Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, PSRI Hospital views said, “we have seen COVID-19 spread in India after a time lag of 3- 4 months from its spread in Western Europe, hence we need to be just as cautious as we were in the second wave.
The protection that vaccination offered against infection also declines with the passage of time. It is time we announce a policy for a booster dose for people with comorbidities.” “Evidence till date have shown that the latest variant multiplies at a faster rate causing infection at a faster rate but the cases reported in India showed milder infections,” he added.
Dr. Sheeba Marwah, Assistant Professor, and COVID-19 Nodal Officer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vardhma in Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital told ANI, “though the severity of infection caused by this variant has been reported to be lesser as compared to its predecessor, yet the nearly 70 times faster replication is the cause of worry.” “Having the propensity to making even the fully vaccinated its prey, we might head toward inevitable third wave,” added Dr. Marwah.
Detected in South Africa, Omicron, the latest Covid variant which is also “highly transmissible” has now been reported in six states. Several studies are going on at present to understand the contagiousness of the virus and the effectiveness of existing vaccines against it. Amid a surge in cases of Omicron variant in the country, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday issued new guidelines for international travelers from ‘at-risk’ countries arriving at six major airports to mandatorily prebook an RT-PCR test starting December 20. (ANI)
18 Omicron patients out of 20 admitted in LNJP were asymptomatic, only two had symptoms: Dr Suresh Kumar
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Out of the total 20 patients of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, only two had symptoms and the rest 18 were asymptomatic, said Dr. Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. “So far 20 positive Omicron patients have come to LNJP, 10 have been discharged, 10 are still admitted, apart from this 2 Omicron patients are admitted in private hospitals.
Out of the 20 patients who have come positive, only 2 patients were such that they had symptoms, one patient had loose motion and the other patient complained of pain in the body. All the other 18 patients were completely asymptomatic. 18 out of 20 patients had got both doses of the vaccine, two patients had one dose each,” said Dr Kumar while speaking to ANI here today.
He further said, “Yesterday 13 patients have come from the airport, their sample has been sent for genome sequencing.” Dr Kumar stated that there are a total of 41 COVID-19 patients in LNJP undergoing treatment at present, out of which 10 are Omicron positive and the rest are RTPCR positive. Apart from these, only 3 patients of Delta variant are admitted in LNJP, 1 patient was already on dialysis, one had a liver problem and one has been admitted recently, he added.
“Apart from this, all the rest were international travelers. 100 beds have already been allotted for Omicron, if needed further, we will increase the beds. Apart from this, oxygen, beds, trained staff are all arranged in makeshift hospitals and they have been kept on alert,” said Dr. Kumar.
According to Dr. Kumar, the new Omicron variant will change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that it will replace the Delta variant and has managed to reach 60 countries. He further stated that the Omicron variant has created an alarming situation and emphasized the need to stay alert.
“This new variant will change the course of the pandemic. It is replacing Delta. Omicron has reached more than 60 countries. There is definitely an alarming situation, but we have to be alert, not panic. We have already handled the UK strain and the second wave in LNJP, for Omicron treatment also, the hospital has a full set up,” added Dr. Kumar. (ANI)
