After observing the rapid growth of the number of Omicron cases, the Union Home Ministry has sounded an alert to the states and union territories directing them to take appropriate steps at the local and district levels. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that states may also consider imposing local curbs or restrictions as needed during the ongoing festive season. The order has been issued in view of the threat posed by Omicron, which is a highly transmissible variant of Covid-19.
The MHA also said that the states and UTs should maintain the highest level of vigil and alertness. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla in his letter said, “I would like to reiterate that all the states and Union territories must observe all precautions, and not let the guard down. Local/district administration, based on the normative framework and assessment of the situation, should promptly take appropriate containment measures. States may consider imposing need-based, local curbs/restrictions, to control the crowd during the festive season.”
Several states have already started strengthening curbs in districts which are reporting high case positivity rates. States have also imposed night curfews and have regulated large gatherings. Experts have said that the holiday season is the one to watch out for especially among the rising Omicron cases. Experts also said that public places may turn into Covid-19 hotspots
Preliminary data analysis at global and national level suggests people with the omicron variant are between 50 per cent and 70 per cent less likely to need hospitalization than those with the delta strain of the coronavirus.
Findings add to emerging evidence that omicron produces milder illness than other variants — but also spreads faster and better evades vaccines.
An individual with omicron is estimated to be between 31 per cent and 45 per cent less likely to attend a hospital emergency department compared to delta, and 50 to 70 per cent less likely to be admitted to hospital.
It cautioned that the analysis is preliminary and highly uncertain because of the small number of omicron patients in hospitals and the fact that most were in younger age groups. Information about the severity of disease caused by Omicron comes mainly from the Gauteng province in South Africa, where the variant was first detected.
Omicron as of now is being detected among the vaccinated population too. But the vaccine prevents it from becoming serious, the need for hospitalization and death. The possibility of a booster dose is being debated and discussed by experts and will be given shortly, based on their recommendations. However, those who took only one dose should receive the due second dose without fail.
With distinct presence of the Delta variant and detection of Omicron cases in many states, there is need for greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision-making, and strict and prompt containment actions at the local and distinct levels, based on the assessment of the situation.
