India logged 4,270 new coronavirus infections on Sunday with a daily positivity rate of above one per cent after 34 days, sparking concerns of another wave just as the country started returning to some level of normalcy.
At the same time, at least 12 cases of Omicron variants BA4 and BA5 were detected from the samples collected in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu State Minister Subramanian said on Sunday 12 samples of the 150 samples taken were sent to the lab in Hyderabad which confirmed the presence of the new variants, marking the emergence of new coronavirus variants in the State.
“As many as four people have been detected with the BA4 variant while eight people have been diagnosed with the BA5 variant. All of them are isolated. We are closely monitoring these 12 people. They are all doing fine,” he said.
This comes amid concerns that about a fifth of the above-12-year-old population is yet to be fully vaccinated while the delivery of boosters is proceeding slowly.
Dr Jugal Kishore, Director Professor and Head of Community Medicine Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, said, “This up and down in the Covid cases will continue for quite some time. This is all about the immunity among the population and their social activities.
“There is not much to worry about as the cases are mild and hospitalisation is not required. However, one should not lower guard when in the crowd and ensure maintaining hygiene and social distancing. Initially, it was thought that the behaviour of the virus is related to temperature and in winter it will be more active.