The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is in the community transmission stage in India, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG)— a multi-laboratory, multi-agency, pan-India network that monitors genomic variations in the civid-19, has declared.
While omicron has triggered intense flare-ups, there have been less hospitalizations and deaths. In that sense, the mutant is less virulent than the earlier version. Nevertheless, the INSACOG has stated that further spread of Omicron is expected to be through internal transmission, not due to foreign travelers.
While it is hoped that Omicron spread doesn’t lead to the emergence of yet another deadly variant,
Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination are the main guards against all kinds of mutations of the virus.
At the same time, community transmission should not trigger panic as long as the fatality rate remains low. Instead, it has raised the possibility that the third wave of Covid-19 might peak sooner than later. According to a preliminary analysis by IIT Madras, the peak in India is likely to come early next month, while other predictions say it may happen by mid-February. The most Omicron cases so far have been asymptomatic or mild, the importance of home isolation and staying away from crowded public places cannot be overemphasized.
With the next 14 days or so being crucial, the government should go all out to fast-track the vaccination drive. It was on January 10 that the administration began administering booster or precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people aged above 60 (with comorbidities). The pace of vaccination rate should be improved significantly. While it may be premature to say that the virus is on its last legs, major relief might be on the cards if it quickly runs its course through the bulk of the population, thus heralding herd immunity. There is need to be vigilant and complacency could prove dangerous as has been warned by the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “it would be dangerous to assume that the highly transmissible Omicron was the last variant to emerge and that the world was in the end game of the pandemic.” On 4 January, researchers confirmed that a new variant of Covid-19 has emerged in France. Named IHU, the B.1.640.2 variant was discovered by the academics at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection. According to the researchers, the new variant contains 46 mutations – even more than Omicron. There is a need to be guarded all the time and keep the guard high.
