Omicron 3 Times More Transmissible Than Delta
The Centre alerted the states and UTs on Omicron, stating that the new variant is three times more transmissible than the highly infectious Delta variant.
India at present has more than 200 cases of the Omicron variant. The Central Government on 21st December alerted the states and UTs on Omicron. It stated that the new Covid-19 variant is three times more transmissible than the highly infectious Delta variant. In a letter to the states/UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised the states to activate war rooms, keep analysing all surges, and keep taking action at the district or local levels. The Centre asked the states to focus on containment, testing, tracking, surveillance, clinical management, vaccination and following Covid-appropriate norms. Bhushan advised the states to impose night curfew, regulate large public gatherings, marriages and funerals. He also advised on limiting the number of people going to offices or availing public transport. He also added that all cluster samples must be sent to INSACOG Labs for Genome Sequencing without delay,” he said.
The Centre further asked the states to strengthen health infrastructure in case of a sudden surge of infections and stressed increasing bed capacity, ambulances, seamless shifting of patients, availability of oxygen equipment, and a buffer stock of drugs”. The Union health secretary also stressed 100% vaccination coverage across states. The door-to-door vaccination campaign needs to be strengthened.
