Hyderabad: As of Thursday, two people from Karnataka tested positive for Omicron variant of Covid-19. A 35-year-old woman from Rangareddy District, who flew from the UK to Hyderabad, also tested Covid positive and officials are waiting for results of genome sequencing to determine the cause of Covid-19 was Delta or Omicron.
What happens to passengers arriving from high-risk countries at international airports in India?
All the international passengers arriving at Shamshabad International Airport are screened and all undergo RTPCR tests inside the airport premises and wait for the results. Passengers who test positive are shifted for treatment at Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) Gachibowli, while those who test negative are advised of 14-day home quarantine. On the 8th day of their home quarantine, district oversight teams will perform RTPCR tests and if they test negative, such individuals will have to remain in home quarantine for another week.
What are the new rules about masks?
The Telangana Health Department has appealed to enforcement officers, including the police department, to start imposing fines of Rs. 1000 on individuals not wearing masks in public spaces. During the peak second wave in April, the state government made it mandatory for everyone to wear masks and decided to impose a fine of Rs.1,000 on those who do not wear masks. The rule of mandatory masks will be implemented again.
On vaccination certificates
Individuals who have already received two doses of Covid vaccines must carry a physical copy of the vaccine certificate on their person. The surveillance teams will conduct random inspections at public spaces to ensure that people are motivated to be vaccinated. The step is also aimed at spreading awareness.
How long does it take to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 genome?
According to health officials in Hyderabad, it takes at least 2 to 3 days for a genetic laboratory to order the complete genome of SARS-CoV-2 and determine if it is a Delta or Omicron variant. In Hyderabad, there are three laboratories including Gandhi Hospital, CCMB and CDFD to perform the genomic sequencing of Omicron.
Which countries are at risk from where international arrivals at airports are tested?
All European countries including UK and South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel.
What is the situation of Covid worldwide?
The MOHFW, New Delhi noted that there is an increase in cases worldwide with Europe contributing to 70 per cent of the total new Covid cases in the past one week. In the week ended 28 Nov, approximately 2.75 lakh new cases and more than 29,000 deaths were reported in Europe.
How many Omicron cases have been reported in the world?
Based on the Omicron tracking site (https://newsnodes.com/nu_tracker), a total of 375 Omicron cases were reported in more than 30 countries.
What does MOHFW say about Omicron?
MOHFW says that 45-52 mutations have been observed in Omicron, of which 26-32 are related to peak proteins. Early data suggest an increased growth rate, but it is not yet known whether Omicron is more transferable compared to other Variants of Concern, including Delta.
Also read: Omicron variant can be detected by RT-PCR, RAT: ICMR main
How fast can it spread?
New data from South Africa show that the Omicron wave is much steeper than the Delta wave that hit South Africa. There is a 5 times increase in hospitalizations in Gauteng province of South Africa in just 2 weeks. Business is all over most of South Africa. The Omicron variant swings much faster in both new daily cases and positivity, than all previous waves in South Africa.
Also read: WHO warns risk associated with Omicron as ‘very high’
How protected are those who took the vaccines?
Reports have indicated that many people who tested positive for Omicron in South Africa and other countries were fully vaccinated and some even received booster doses. Scientists are worried that the new variant could bypass the current vaccines Covid-19. The B.1.1.529 variant has a total of 50 mutations, including more than 30 on the peak protein alone, which is the target of most current Covid vaccines. However, a clearer picture will emerge in the coming days, as researchers do not yet know the clear implications of the new variant on vaccines and boosters.
Why worry about the new variant of coronavirus?
According to MOHFW, the new variant reportedly has a significantly high number of mutations, and therefore has serious public health implications.
How is it different from the original virus?
The B1.1.529 has more than 2 times the number of bad peak mutations than the Delta variant. The new variant has an extremely high 32 worrying mutations in the peak protein, which is a real concern as the Delta variant.
What impact will this have on travel? How many countries have imposed restrictions on air travel?
Countries such as the United Kingdom have imposed travel restrictions on African countries due to concerns that vaccines may be less effective against the variant. Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kenya and Singapore also restricted travel. The European Union has called on its member states to stop traveling to and from countries where the new variant has been notified.
What is India doing about the new virus?
Concerned about the development of new variants, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has instructed Indian states to intensify surveillance activities across all airports. States have begun to track down travelers flying in from countries where the infections have been reported as a result of the new variant.
Also read: WHO regional director says Omicron in India was not unexpected
Source: Telangana Today