Will India see Omicron wave? ‘It will be clear in 6 to 8 weeks’

Will India see Omicron wave? ‘It will be clear in 6 to 8 weeks’

Doctor: Have To Study If Omicron Displaces Delta As Dominant Variant

Malathy Iyer TNN

Mumbai  05.12.2021

: While Maharashtra’s first Omicron case has been detected in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, experts said it would take another six to eight weeks for an “Omicron wave”, if at all, to become apparent.

The state health machinery is going to use the time to focus on vaccination. State additional chief secretary (health) Dr Pradeep Vyas said, “We will focus on quickly completing the vaccination process and ensuring that people follow Covid-appropriate behavior, particularly proper wearing of face mask.”

Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the state government’s Covid task force, said, “There are too many unknowns with the Omicron variant at the moment. We shouldn’t panic, but maintain a vigil. We have to study if Omicron in the next few weeks displaces the Delta variant (which caused the second wave in India) as the dominant variant in circulation.”

He said the next six to eight weeks are crucial to see how the Omicron variant behaves in India which has seen a wide exposure to the Delta variant. “Most Omicron cases are related to travel. We have to study clusters of cases in countries other than South Africa that may have developed after the first travel-related case. It will help us prepare,” added Dr Joshi.

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JABBED: A health worker administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a beneficiary at a vaccination centre in Patna on Saturday

RT-PCR report must for Vaishno Devi visit

Reviewing precautionary measures taken in view of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has mandated for all visiting devotees to have verifiable RT-PCR reports not older than 72 hours, reports Sanjay Khajuria. Urging those taking up the pilgrimage not to let down their guard in the wake of a recent spike in Covid cases, SMVDSB chief executive officer Ramesh Kumar has appealed to the devotees to adhere to Covidappropriate behaviour and carry valid RT-PCR reports with them.