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BIG STORY DECEMBER 10, 2021 | The Indian Eye 4

omicron variant

Can India Handle It?

Fear grips the country as the new covid-19 variant infects people across the country? Will there be a third wave of infections?
can india vaccinate the entire population to avoid a calamity? are there enough booster doses for 1.3 billion people?

OuR BuREAu
New Delhi/Lucknow

micron cases are increas-
ingly being reported from
Ocountries outside of South
Africa and given its characteristics,
it is likely to spread to more coun-
tries including India. However, the
scale and magnitude of rise in cases
and most importantly the severity of
disease that will be caused is still not
clear. Further, given the fast pace of
vaccination in India and high expo-
sure to Delta variant as evidenced
by high seropositivity, the severity of
the disease is anticipated to be low.
However, scientific evidence is still
evolving.
While, there is no evidence to
suggest that existing vaccines do not
work on Omicron, some of the mu-
tations reported on Spike gene may Passengers arriving from Karnataka stand in a queue to give their swab samples in the wake of the Omicron variant of COVID-19,
decrease the efficacy of existing vac- at MGR Central Railway Station, in Chennai on Friday. (ANI Photo)
cines. However, vaccine protection is
also by antibodies as well as by cellu- 16,000 pax arriving on 58 flights from for genome sequencing. He said a cron suspects were admitted to
lar immunity, which is expected to be ‘at risk’ countries done so far. Eigh- South African national, who had LNJP hospital on Thursday. “Four
relatively better preserved. teen of these tested positive for in been detected with Omicron variant, suspects have been admitted today,
Indian government is monitor- RT-PCR testing, their genome se- was found negative for COVID-19 out of which, two have been tested
ing the situation closely and is issuing quencing is underway so that it can in a subsequent test in Bengaluru COVID-19 positive while the test re-
suitable guidelines from time to time. be determined if they have Omicron and left for his home country on No- sults for the other two are awaited,”
Meanwhile, the scientific and medi- variant or not,” the minister said vember 27. The minister said his 12 stated sources. Of these four sus-
cal community is geared up for de- during his reply to the marathon de- primary contacts and 200 secondary pects, two have come from the UK,
veloping and deploying diagnostics, bate on the COVID-19 situation in contacts had been traced and they one from France and one from the
carrying out genomic surveillance, the Lok Sabha. had tested negative for coronavirus. Netherlands, sources added.
generating evidence about viral and The minister said RT-PCR tests He said three family members A new variant of COVID-19 was
epidemiologic characteristics, and are being done of passengers from and 160 other contacts of 46-year-old first reported to the World Health
development of therapeutics. “at risk” countries and revised guide- Indian nationals in Bengaluru, who Organization (WHO) from South
Union Health Minister Manuskh lines have been issued for travel from had also been found affected by the Africa on November 25. As per the
Mandaviya said on Friday that RT- these countries. Omicron variant, had been tested WHO, the first known confirmed
PCR tests have been done of 16,000 He said there are 373 cases of and five samples, which had tested B.1.1.529 infection was from a spec-
passengers from ‘at risk’ countries Omicron, classified as a variant of positive, had been sent for genome imen collected on November 9 this
and 18 samples have been sent for concern by WHO, in 29 countries. sequencing. year.
genome sequencing to determine if Mandaviya said Prime Minister Na- Meanwhile, as many as 12 pa- The new Omicron coronavirus
they have Omicron variant of the vi- rendra Modi held a meeting with tients suspected to be infected with variant has been confirmed in 23
rus or not. officials after South Africa reported the COVID-19 ‘Omicron’ variant countries and their number is expect-
The minister said Karnataka, about the new variant to WHO and have been admitted to Lok Nayak ed to rise, Director-General of WHO
where two samples have shown Omi- Union Health Secretary held meet- Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospi- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had
cron strain, has been asked to take all ing with states. tal in Delhi so far, said the sources on said. India has also added several
precautions so that there is no spread The minister all COVID-19 pos- Friday. countries to the list from where trav-
of infection. “RT-PCR testing of over itive cases at airports are being sent As per the sources, eight Omi- Continued at next page... >>

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