What Is The Government's Plan To Combat The COVID-19 Omicron Variant?

Omicron: Directions Issued By Centre To Cut The Spread Of The Infectious New Variant
The Spread Of Omicron
Conclusion

Amid a rising number of Omicron cases in India, the central government on Friday issued a slew of directions advising citizens on how to protect themselves and cut the spread of the highly infectious new variant of the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus that is said to also be capable of undergoing frequent mutations. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the nodal agency for media communications on behalf of the Government of India, shared the list of Omicron-related general advice at the behest of Balram Bhargava, the director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Omicron: Directions Issued By Centre To Cut The Spread Of The Infectious New Variant

Non-essential travel must be averted.
Mass gatherings should also be avoided as these often turn into Covid-19 hotspots.
Festivities should be observed in “low intensity”.

Those districts, which have reported more than five per cent test positivity rates, need to ensure restrictive measures until the rate falls below five per cent for at least two weeks.

The Spread Of Omicron

At least 578 cases of COVID-19 caused by omicron have been reported from 19 states / UTs, as of December 27, 2021. Delhi with 142 cases tops the chart, followed by Maharashtra (141) and Kerala (57). Measures, including night curfews, have been imposed by governments in Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh amid the surge.

Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra health minister, said in a media report in November end the third wave expected to arrive may be mild and medical oxygen and ICU beds will not be required. Maharashtra, among the worst-hit states, has prohibited a gathering of more than five people between 9 pm and 6 am.

Restaurants and gyms in the state are allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity only. There is a possibility of a ‘yellow alert’ in Delhi, according to the recent health bulletin: The positivity rate increased from 0.55 per cent on December 26 to 0.68 per cent on December 27 in one day.

Conclusion

In India, people above 60 years of age who have comorbidities will be allowed to take the ‘booster dose’. Healthcare and frontline workers will be provided with “precautionary doses'' from January 10, 2022.

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Disclaimer

This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.