Rajesh Bhushan said that Omicron is 3 times more contagious than the delta strain of coronavirus

Rajesh Bhushan said that Omicron is 3 times more contagious than the delta strain of coronavirus

Amid a new surge in Covid19 cases and a sharp rise in detection of the Omicron mutation on Tuesday, the center sent a letter to all states governments about the precautions to be taken in different parts of the country at this stage.

Union Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan also said in a letter that Omicron is three times more contagious than the delta strain of coronavirus and that hospital beds should be activated to contain it. 

 The percentage of omicrons compared to deltas is almost three times higher. Thus, more forecasting, data analysis, dynamic decision-making, and strong and rapid deterrence at the regional and regional level are required,” said Bhushan. 

 “Activate the War Rooms/Emergency Operations Center (EOC), continue to analyze all trends and peaks, albeit small, and take active action at the district/local level,” he added. 

 There must be a constant analysis of new data regarding the Covid19 population, its geographic distribution, hospital infrastructure and its use, personnel, quarantine zone notifications, and quarantine zone boundaries enforcement at the district level.

“These data should be used by local government to effectively make decisions at the local level. This strategy ensures that infection is contained at the local level before it spreads to other parts of the state,” he said. 

Coalition Health Department on Tuesday said 200 cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus have been found in India’s 12 states and confederate territories so far, of which 77 have recovered or migrated. 

 Maharashtra and Delhi recorded 54 cases per omicron variant. The Center has asked state and county governments to consider introducing containment measures in areas where positive outcomes are growing.

“At least three times as many gears are on the Omicron as on the Delta. Consequently, much more forecasting, data analysis, and rigorous and rapid containment are needed at a regional and regional level. According to a letter to the state government.

 Bhushan added, “State/California and county decision-making must be very fast and focused and contain containment and containment measures even before these thresholds are reached.”

The Health Minister stressed the need to continue monitoring the COVID-19 infected population at the regional level, the geographic distribution of the last confirmed cluster, and the widespread hospital infrastructure and use.

To increase awareness and take active measures at the prefectural/local levels, he even advised them to open the hospital room/emergency operation center, to continuously analyze all trends and surges, no matter how small.

Regular inspections and active measures will be necessary here, to be carried out by field officers.   

 Bhushan controlled the spread of infection and flattened the curve. Immediate notice of ”isolated areas” and ”buffered areas” is required for all new clusters of COVID-19 positive cases, and strict control around containment areas is required following existing guidelines.

Underlined letter: further clarification All cluster samples must be sent without delay to the INSACOG laboratory for genomic sequencing. Bhushan also noted last week that a test-positive or oxygenated bed of 10% or more, or a bed occupancy of 40% or more in intensive care units, should be a key building block used in the coalition’s states and territories. Facilitate district decision-making. 

The assessment that Omicron is more contagious than Delta is cause for concern. That’s because Delta is believed to have triggered a deadly second wave in India between April and June of this year. On December 11, World Health Organization (WHO) head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also noted that there was significant evidence that Omicron “spreads much faster” than the delta variant.

 “Also, people who have received or recovered from the COVID-19 vaccine are more likely to become infected or re-infected,” Gabreyesus said.

The WHO statement reflects the findings of a recent study conducted by Imperial College London that found a five-fold higher risk of reinfection with omicrons. He went on to say that this strain showed no signs of being softer than Delta.

India’s Ministry of Health last week advised its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, refrain from large gatherings and take low-intensity vacations during the New Year. On December 21st, the number of domestic Omicron virus infections exceeded 200, and currently, 12 states have confirmed cases. Maharashtra had the highest number of Omicron infections with 11, followed by Delhi with 54. 

    A source said six more cases of the omicron-type coronavirus have been discovered in Delhi, bringing the total number of people who have tested positive for this strain to 28. According to them, at least 12 patients have been discharged.

Amid fears of increasing coronavirus cases in Omicron and Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Monday afternoon that all samples that tested positive for infection would be sent for genomic sequencing

. A decision was made by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) during a meeting where the Prime Minister discussed the situation with Omicron, including the possible implications and steps to address it.

 Earlier in the day, one source said: “Two more cases of Omicron were found in Delhi. The sample previously sent for genomic sequencing was positive.” Or “The number increased to 24 and 12 patients were discharged. I did, “he said in the afternoon. These two patients are admitted to LNJP Hospital, sources said, adding that most patients are asymptomatic. Later that night, according to another source, four more cases of Covid’s Omicron variant were found here, bringing the number to 28. Meanwhile, shortly after the Prime Minister’s press conference, authorities at two of Delhi’s genome sequencing laboratories said they could process more samples for the detection of Omicron variants. 

According to the latest health information, 93 new COVID 19 cases were recorded in the city on Monday with a positive rate of 0.20 per cent. The state capital registered 85 cases on Thursday with a positive rate of 0.15 per cent. According to official figures, on Sunday it jumped to 107, the highest daily increase since June 27, but deaths were also recorded and the positive rate was 0.17 per cent. There are two laboratories with genome sequencing facilities, one at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) and one at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, which is operated under the Government of Delhi. “We have the ability to process 1,000 samples per week. 

 

The number of daily cases has increased over the past few days, but only 500 samples per week have been used, so we are currently insufficient capacity. We plan to double it if necessary, “a source told PTI. A 37-year-old Rancho man, the first case of the Omicron variant in Delhi, was discovered on December 5. He was fired. With the proliferation of Omicron cases reported in Delhi, doctors warn that this is a highly contagious variant and that all types of rallies should be avoided to follow Covid’s proper behaviour. 

Here are the top 10 points in this amazing story: 

 

1. A letter from the Ministry of Health states that the measures taken should be based on local circumstances and that so-called “limits” guidelines should be set.
2. According to the center, the threshold is above 10% in last week’s test, or the test is positive that the occupancy in the oxygen-assisted bed or intensive care bed is 40%. 
3. State and Union Territory need to “take containment measures and implement containment before the threshold is reached,” the Center said. 
4. In addition to Omicron, Delta variants “still exist” in different parts of the country, the letter said. 
5. State / UT and county decision-making is “very quick and focused” in search of “better foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision-making, and rigorous and immediate containment.” I am. Containment measures and restrictions need to be in place. “These thresholds have been reached” in advance. 
6. As part of testing and monitoring methods, the Center mentions door-to-door case searches and contact tracing for all Covid-positive individuals. 
7. Samples from cluster infections should be sent immediately to the INSACOG lab for genomic sequencing. 
8. The state was also urged to “speed up and ensure” a 100 per cent vaccination rate. 
9. We also propose to use emergency funds to expand the medical infrastructure such as hospital beds, ambulances, oxygen devices and medicines. 
10. According to the Ministry of Health, there are over 200 cases of Omicron in India. Maharashtra and Delhi reported the highest number of cases of new variants54. This is followed by Telangana (20), Karnataka (19), Rajasthan (18), Kerala (15) and Gujarat (14). The ministry added that 77 of these patients had recovered or migrated.

edited and proofread by nikita sharma