Complacency will cost us dear; we must learn our Omicron lessons from the global classroom
The Omicron variant of the virus is surging across the world. The United Kingdom is reporting over 80,000 cases a day, including 12,000 Omicron infections. The United States is experiencing the fourth wave already. In India, the figure has crossed 100. It may look small, but the rate of growth is rapid. Doctors say of the 22 patients diagnosed with Omicron in Delhi so far, 10 have been discharged from hospitals. That provides little relief because most fresh positive cases are not genome sequenced; we do not know if Omicron is causing the infection. Several other States have also reported Omicron cases. There is some anxiety in the country on what the future portends. What we know about Omicron as of date gives us no reassurance. It is highly transmissible, affects both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, and can slice through immunity systems. These three factors are enough to launch a third wave in India. That Omicron is not attacking the respiratory system like the Delta variant is no consolation because a wave will anyway lead to hospitalisation and resultant chaos. There may not be that many deaths like the last time, though. Screening and testing have increased in public places and transport hubs and COVID medical centres are being reopened in some cities, including in Delhi. The anxiety of the authorities is not translating into caution because people are quite blasé about wearing masks or using sanitisers.
Crowding at marketplaces is routine. Travel has increased, both domestic and international. One hopes the Government and the people are not harbouring a false hope that since Omicron is not deadly and the symptoms largely mild, a wave, even if it comes, will pass without causing harm. Election rallies and New Year arrangements are blissfully on. Year-end celebrations are being cancelled elsewhere and European countries are putting the UK in the high-risk travel category; that means passengers arriving from the UK must compulsorily complete a 14-day quarantine. India, however, is yet to take a call on restricting air travel or tightening restrictions for high-risk travellers. With the bitter experience gained from the first two waves, the Government should be acting much more decisively this time. It should begin by re-introducing certain restrictions, banning crowd events and introducing hotel quarantine for incoming foreigners. Only vaccinated people must be allowed to use public transport and visit public places. While discouraging crowds, the step would prod the growing number of vaccine complacent to take their second jabs. Western countries have introduced booster shots and Omicron is thriving despite them; that should tell us how woeful our story might be. Omicron spreads 5.5 times faster than Delta and doubles every 1.5-3 days; that means the infections will be in millions if the wave attacks us. At our current pace of vaccination, all adults may not get the jabs by next March. The Government must not think of postponing a booster shot till then.