The Centre on Friday issued a list of frequently asked questions titled “FAQs on SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Omicron”, on the Omicron “variant of concern”. In a question asking about India’s response, the government, in the “FAQs” issued by the Ministry of Health, said, “Indian government is monitoring the situation closely and is issuing suitable guidelines from time to time. Meanwhile, the scientific and medical community is geared up for developing and deploying diagnostics, carrying out genomic surveillance, generating evidence about viral and epidemiologic characteristics, and development of therapeutics.”
In another question asking if there will be a third wave, the government said, “Omicron cases are increasingly being reported from countries outside of South Africa and given its characteristics, it is likely to spread to more countries 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 exposure to delta variant as evidenced by high seropositivity, the severity of the disease is anticipated to be low. However, scientific evidence is still evolving.”
To the question on the effectivity of the vaccines, the government said, “While, there is no evidence to suggest that existing vaccines do not work on Omicron, some of the mutations reported on Spike gene may decrease the efficacy of existing vaccines. However, vaccine protection is also by antibodies as well as by cellular immunity, which is expected to be relatively better preserved. Hence vaccines are expected to still offer protection
against severe disease and, vaccination with the available vaccines is crucial. If eligible, but not vaccinated, one should get vaccinated.”
Also on Friday, Union Health Minister Manuskh Mandaviya said that RT-PCR tests have been done of 16,000 passengers from “at risk” countries and 18 samples have been sent for genome sequencing to determine if they have Omicron variant of the virus or not. The minister said, Karnataka, where two samples have shown Omicron strain, has been asked to take all precautions so that there is no spread of infection. “RT-PCR testing of over 16,000 pax arriving on 58 flights from ‘at risk’ countries done so far. Eighteen 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,” the minister said during his reply to the marathon debate on the Covid-19 situation in the Lok Sabha. The minister said RT-PCR tests are being done of passengers from “at risk” countries and revised guidelines have been issued for travel from these countries. He said there are 373 cases of Omicron, classified as a variant of concern by WHO, in 29 countries.
Mandaviya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with officials after South Africa reported about the new variant to WHO and Union Health Secretary held meeting with states.
The minister said that all COVID-19 positive cases at airports are being sent for genome sequencing.
PASSENGERS FROM RUSSIA CREATE RUCKUS
Amid the scare of the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus, over 20 passengers from Russia (Moscow) arrived at the Delhi airport on Friday and created ruckus over the mandatory COVID-19 test, officials said.
The group including NRIs refused to comply with the rules for mandatory RT-PCR tests. As Russia has been categorised as an at-risk country, passengers coming from Russia have to undergo COVID testing at the airport. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport Official said that passengers created ruckus over the COVID-19 test and the quick response team (QRT) of aviation security had to be called in to control the situation. “Around 20 passengers of Aero flight from Russia (Moscow) SU-232 passengers created a chaos at the piers and were not ready to go for the RT-PCR test, after repeated requests they convinced and the situation is under control,” an official said.
IN DELHI
Meanwhile in Delhi, as many as 12 patients suspected to be infected with the Covid-19 “Omicron” variant have been admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital. Quoting sources, agencies reported on Friday, “Four suspects have been admitted today, out of which, two have tested COVID-19 positive while the test results for the other two are awaited.” Of these four suspects, two have come from the UK, one from France and one from the Netherlands. The samples of all four patients were to be sent for genome sequencing.
IN ANDHRA PRADESH
In Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, District Collector Mallikarjuna said on Friday that some international returnees who might have come to Visakhapatnam from Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad were untraceable. He said that the administration received a list of international returnees who might have come to Visakhapatnam from Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad. He said that some of them have been traced while some are untraceable. “Protocol is very clear. Once any international traveller test positive, apart from following the routine protocol of containment and treatment, we are sending their samples to genome sequencing,” said Mallikarjuna.
The District Collector also said that the administration was prepared for any kind of situation that may arise in the coming days. “We have set up an RT-PCR testing facility at Visakhapatnam airport for travellers. District officials have also been geared up over omicron alert. Around 7,500 beds are available in the district which also includes oxygen beds,” he added.
IN KARNATAKA
A day after two cases of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 were detected in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday chaired a meeting with experts and senior officials and directed the technical advisory committee members to analyse and advise on the test report of both the cases that have been reported. “There is no official study of these cases that have been reported (around the world). Mild symptoms are seen in infected persons. No death cases were reported,” said the Chief Minister in the meeting.
The Chief Minister asked officials to write a letter to the Centre requesting to provide a detailed report of the cases from the National Centre For Biological Sciences (NCBS) laboratory. Bommai also directed the authorities to take strict precautionary measures.
The Chief Minister made vaccination compulsory for people who go to movies and malls and for parents of children attending school. He also made it compulsory for government employees to get fully vaccinated. “100 per cent testing in Nursing and Paramedical Training Institutes. Individuals over 65 years of age with health problems will also be tested,” said the Chief Minister.
It was instructed in the meeting that the number of people attending any conference, marriage and other events and gatherings will be limited to 500.
Meanwhile, media reports quoted Bengaluru municipal corporation, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), to say that at least 10 international travellers who arrived in the city from countries in southern Africa were untraceable. The passengers had switched off their phones to avoid detection. They were also not available at the addresses they had given to the authorities. Out of the 57 passengers who had arrived from southern Africa, after the Omicron variant was announced, 10 went missing.
An investigation has been ordered into how a 60-year-old man from South Africa left India after testing positive.
ON BOOSTER DOSE
The Union Health Minister also said on Friday that the government would go by scientific advice to decide on vaccination for children and about giving “booster dose” against Covid-19.
“The expert team will decide on vaccination for children and about booster dose. We will go by the scientific advice,” the minister said during his reply to the 12-hour-long debate on Covid-19 situation in the Lok Sabha.