There are 2 parts to the Omicron virus to worry about-infectivity & virulence. The R0 factor may be 12-18 times or even higher. It means it could be a very devastating spread. Right now, we don’t know the exact details of it.
The Newster
The Central government on Thursday confirmed that two cases of Covid 19’s deadliest variant Omicron have been found in Karnataka. Two people, a 46-year-old and 66-year-old have been infected with the Omicron variant of Covid 19.
Speaking to the media, Joint Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said, “all primary and secondary contacts of the two infected person from Karnataka have been identified and they are being monitored and Covid 19 protocols are being followed.”
“The two cases of Omicron were detected through genome sequencing effort of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a consortium of 37 laboratories established by Union Health Ministry”, said Balram Bhargava, Director General of India Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Meanwhile, Mr Agrawal apprised that the “Omicron variant can be five times more infectious than the other known variant of Covid 19.”
He further said, “Around 29 countries have reported 373 cases of Omicron variant so far.”
The Omicron variant of Covid 19 was first reported in South Africa on November 25.
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In the wake of the new Covid 19 variant, many countries have imposed travel restrictions on the South African countries in order to curb the spread of the variant.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia said to ANI, “The confirmation of Omicron variant of Concern today by India, the first two cases in WHO South-East Asia Region, was not unexpected in view of the interconnected world that we live In”.
Talking on the Omicron variant, Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman-MD, Medanta said to the ANI, “There are 2 parts to the virus to worry about-infectivity & virulence. The R0 factor may be 12-18 times or even higher. It means it could be a very devastating spread. Right now, we don’t know the exact details of it.”
He further added, “There’s nothing to suggest it’s going to be okay¬hing to suggest it’s going to be devastating. All we know is that we’re in very tricky situation as they found this new variant which has 30 plus variants on the spike protein & over 50 variants in the whole structure.”
Dr Dhiren of Gangaram Hospital said that unvaccinated children can be a weak link in the fight against Covid 19.
Talking to the news agency ANI, Dr Dhiren said, “Children not getting vaccinated can probably be the weak link in fighting from Covid19. We have delayed our vaccination for children. Our policies debarring them from vaccination can backfire on us. We need to think before sending them to school.”
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