Over 12 Omicron-Suspected Patients Admitted to Delhi Hospital, Reports Awaited
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Nine members of a family in Jaipur have tested positive for COVID-19, days after four of them returned from South Africa, news agency PTI reported.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday, warned that countries in the Asia-Pacific region need to strengthen healthcare services and focus on vaccinating their people, as the omicron variant spreads globally and enters new regions.
Two cases of COVID-19's Omicron variant have been reported in India so far, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, on Thursday at a press conference held in New Delhi.
Both cases have been found in Karnataka, in fully vaccinated males aged 46 and 66 years. Contact tracing is being done, government authorities said at the press conference, adding that the public need not panic.
'Omicron,' which has been declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), has raised alarm bells across the globe
According to the World Health Organization, it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible or severe compared to Delta
The Omicron variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a "very high" global risk where COVID-19 surges could have "severe consequences," WHO had said on Monday, 29 November
The B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19, or Omicron, was first reported by South Africa on 24 November 2021
In Netherlands, the variant reportedly emerged a week prior to its detection in SA
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Reinfections 3 Times More Likely With Omicron Compared To Delta: Study
A preliminary study by South African scientists published on Thursday suggests that the Omicron variant is three times more likely to cause reinfections compared to the Delta or Beta variants, reports AFP.
The findings, based on data collected by the country's health system, provides the first epidemiological evidence about Omicron's ability to evade immunity from prior infection.
Five Contacts of Omicron Patient in Bengaluru Test Positive for COVID
Five contacts of an omicron patient – a doctor from Bengaluru – have tested COVID-positive, Karnataka announced on Thursday. This came shortly after the Union health ministry said the first patients of the new COVID variant have been found in the state.
The patients have been isolated and their samples have been sent for genome testing, Karnataka said amid concern over the highly infectious strain that has set off global alarm.
South Africa Hit By 4th Wave Driven By Omicron
South Africa is being hit by a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Friday, according to Reuters.
Phaahla told a media briefing that he hoped that the variant could be managed without causing too many deaths.
He urged South Africans to get fully vaccinated, adding that the country could manage the fourth wave without stricter lockdown restrictions over Christmas.
Prepare for Omicron Surge, WHO Warns Asia-Pacific Nations
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday warned that countries in the Asia-Pacific region need to strengthen healthcare services and focus on vaccinating their people, as the Omicron variant spreads globally and enters new regions.
In a virtual briefing, Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for the western Pacific, said that it is clear that this pandemic is far from over.
"I know that people are worried about Omicron. I understand. My message to you today is that we can adapt the way we manage this virus to better cope w/ future surges and reduce their health, social and economic impact," he said.
9 in Jaipur Test COVID-Positive After Return From South Africa
Nine members of a family in Jaipur have tested positive for COVID-19, days after four of them returned from South Africa, news agency PTI reported.
Those who returned from South Africa have been admitted to the hospital of the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) and swab samples of all nine people have been sent for genome sequencing to Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital, a health official told news agency Press Trust of India.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Narottam Sharma said 14 samples were taken for testing from the family, nine of which tested positive for the infection.
Karnataka Govt Orders Inquiry Into First Omicron Case, Announces COVID-19 Curbs
The Karnataka government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the first Omicron variant case detected in the state, after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai chaired a meeting to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Karnataka.
The government of Karnataka on Friday also announced a slew of restrictions in order to check the COVID-19 situation in the state.
"The entry to malls, cinema halls/theatres, shall be allowed only to the persons who are vaccinated with two doses of COVID vaccine," the state government announced.
"It is emphasized that all gathering, meeting, conferences etc, should strictly limit number of participants to 500 people only and COVID appropriate behaviour shall be strictly enforced during the event," the government said.
Health Min Mandaviya Doles Out Credit to Modi Govt for COVID Management
Union Health Minister Manshukh Mandaviya on Friday, 3 December, credited his government with having been alert before COVID-19 hit India. According to ANI, Mandaviya said in the Lok Sabha:
“First COVID-19 case in India was reported on 13th Jan 2020 in Kerala. But the 1st meeting of Jt Monitoring Committee constituted by Centre, was held on 8th Jan 2020. It means we were alert, a committee had been formed before the case was reported and it had started working.”
Further he also gave credit to the Modi government for scrapping rules that delayed vaccine research and production, comparing the same with earlier times.
“There was a time when it took 3 yrs for approval if someone did research on a vaccine. So, nobody used to do research. We scrapped those rules and the nation got vaccine after research within a year - this facility has been given by PM Modi.”
16,000 Passengers From 'At Risk' Countries Tested, 18 Positive: Health Min
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday, 3 December, informed that RT-PCR testing of over 16,000 passengers arriving on 58 flights from 'at risk' countries has been done so far.
"18 of these tested positive for in RT-PCR testing, their genome sequencing is underway so that it can be determined if they have Omicron Variant or not," he added, according to ANI.
Over 12 Omicron-Suspected Patients Admitted in Delhi's LNJP Hospital
Over 12 patients, suspected to be infected by the Omicron COVID variant, have been admitted at Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital.
The patients, whose samples have been sent for genome sequencing, are lodging in the isolation ward of the hospital.
Dr Suresh Kumar, MD, LNJP hospital told The Quint, "Till today morning, there were 12 Omicron suspected patients. There samples have been sent for genome sequencing. A few more got admitted today but I'm yet to get their details. All patients are adults. Of them, only one has complained of symptoms of mild fever."
He further said that all suspected Omicron patients have foreign travel history – 4 had come back from the UK, 4 from France, 1 from Tanzania, 1 from Belgium, and 2 from the Netherlands.
1 Suspected Omicron Case Reported in Kerala
A 46-year old man, who recently returned to Kerala from the UK, tested positive for COVID-19, and is suspected of being infected with the Omicron variant, reported The New Indian Express.
The samples of the patient have been sent for genome sequencing,