As India’s Omicron tally touched 161, the Government on Monday assured the Rajya Sabha members that situation is being monitored daily and in case the variant spreads, sufficient arrangements are in place such as enough buffer stock of important medicines.
Meanwhile, health experts said that they general perception that Omicron is ‘mild’ should not be taken on the face value. Keeping the finger crossed, they warned that cases might shoot up fast by mid January next year with those having immune-compromised health to be the worst sufferers.
Amid Omicron scare, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday while addressing the Rajya Sabha, said, “As of now, India has 161 Omicron cases. We’re monitoring the situation daily with experts. With our experience during the 1st & 2nd waves, to ensure that we don’t face problems when variant spreads, we’ve arranged a buffer stock of important medicines.”
Omicron cases have been detected in: Maharashtra (54), Delhi (28), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (19), Telangana (20), Gujarat (11), Kerala (15), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (4).
In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom, India should prepare itself for any eventuality, said All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria. "We should prepare and hope that things are not as bad as in the United Kingdom. We need more data on Omicron. Whenever there is a surge in cases in other parts of the world, we need to monitor it closely and be prepared for any eventuality. It is better to stay prepared than to get caught off-guard," Guleria told a news channel.
Echoing similar sentiments, Chairman, Fortis CDOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, New Delhi Dr Anoop Misra dismissed notion that Omicron is mild. “Those who say Ominron is mild infection are wrong. It could be severe in some, elderly, longstanding diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and those who are immunosuppressed. It has already caused hospitalization and deaths in people. Double mask up. All precautions, more!,” tweeted Dr Misra.
He also pointed out that just wearing N95 mask is not enough. “Three conditions for maximum protection such as “tightfit" of mask is a must (many have loose fit), other person near you must have a tight fit n95 disposable masks and keep distance,” the leading diabetologist further tweeted as he called for booster shots, for at least for vulnerable and medical and frontline workers.
Dr Pankaj Solanki, surgeon from Dharamveer Solanki Hospital, Delhi too warned that Omicron cases may spike by mid-January next year and if not oxygen, shortage of human resources in the healthcare sector may adversely hit services.
“Even if we say the disease has mild symptoms, there’s no doubt that the rising number and the force of infection will put pressure on hospitals. Those with poor immunity and co-morbidities like diabetes will have to be extra conscious and follow safety norms.”
Dr Solanki suggested that it’s high time that the Government works on capping of medicines to be needed for management of the new variants and virus associated infections such as mucormycosis. Dr Neha Panda, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram made it clear that to keep the Omicron variant at bay, there is a need of JAB( vaccine) CAB( Covid appropriate behavior) and MAB ( monoclonal antibodies). She also suggested that Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody could be a game changer.
Citing the recent WHO warning that the new variant is fast spreading, she said that Omicron cannot be taken lightly at all owing to its high transmissibility and doubling rate of two to three days. “It is spreading rapidly at an unprecedented rate,” she said.
“We also cannot dismiss Omicron as mild since the sheer number of predicted cases may overwhelm the health system,” said Dr Panda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the new omicron Covid-19 variant is spreading faster than any previous strain, and it is probably present in every country of the world.
