NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Friday cautioned people against lowering the guard amid rise in cases and urged people to follow Covid-19-appropriate behaviour.
Moreover, keeping in mind the year-end festivities amid the Omicron threat, several states imposed restrictions.
‘World witnessing 4th Covid surge’
The government said that the world is witnessing a fourth surge in Covid-19 cases and having an overall positivity rate of 6.1 per cent.
20 districts across the country reporting weekly positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent, two districts over 10 per cent, the Union health ministry said.
The government said the Covid-19 case positivity rate in Kerala and Mizoram is much higher than national average and a cause for concern.
‘Of 183 Omicron cases analysed, 87 were fully vaccinated’
The Union health Ministry said that of the 183 Omicron positive cases reported in India, three patients have already taken three doses and 121 had a foreign travel history.
“Out of 183 Omicron cases analysed so far, 91% were fully vaccinated with three having booster shots, 70% were asymptomatic, 61% were males,” the ministry said.
ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said, “The predominant strain in India continues to be Delta, including the recently identified clusters. Therefore, we need to continue with the same strategy of following Covid-appropriate behaviour and ramping up vaccination.”
Infection due to Omicron variant “does not necessarily lead to severe symptomatic clinical disease”. In India, about a third of all the detected cases were mildly symptomatic and the rest were asymptomatic, he underlined.
“Therefore, I want to emphasise that the treatment for Omicron infected symptomatic individuals remains the same. It does not change from that for Delta, Alpha or the Beta variant.”
Meanwhile, India has reported 360 Omicron cases so far and 114 people have recovered from the variant.
Govt urges private health sector to be ready to face Omicron threat
The Centre urged the private health sector to be ready as it has to play an important role in managing the pandemic.
“I would now like to request the private health sector also to prepare to include them in the entire health system level preparedness. The private sector has played and continues to play a very important role in managing the pandemic at the national level,” VK Paul said.
ICMR on vaccine booster shots
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that they are reviewing scientific data to formulate a policy on booster shots.
“Deliberations are underway. We are reviewing scientific data to formulate a policy,” said Dr Balram Bhargava.
As a working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) recommendations is still under process over booster dose and vaccination for children, Dr VK Paul, member Niti Aayog said, “Decision on the booster and children’s vaccination will be based on science.”
Several states impose curbs
Keeping in mind the current Omicron scenario in the country, several states on Friday imposed curbs ahead of the celebration of Christmas, New Years Eve and other festivities.
Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government decided to impose 11 pm to 5am night curfew from December 25 following Covid-19 concerns in the country. No more than 200 people will be allowed at weddings, the order said.
A government official said that there were “no specific orders for political rallies so far” though people will be ‘encouraged’ to wear masks.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that every single passenger coming from outside in the state should be duly traced.
Gujarat
The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office notified that night curfew will be in force from 11pm to 5am daily in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar and Junagadh from 25th December.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh administration will ban entry of those not fully vaccinated at public places from January 1, 2022; Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed.
Odisha
The Odisha government imposed new restrictions which will be in force from December 25 to January 2, the government said in an order.
Moreover, keeping in mind the year-end festivities amid the Omicron threat, several states imposed restrictions.
‘World witnessing 4th Covid surge’
The government said that the world is witnessing a fourth surge in Covid-19 cases and having an overall positivity rate of 6.1 per cent.
20 districts across the country reporting weekly positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent, two districts over 10 per cent, the Union health ministry said.
The government said the Covid-19 case positivity rate in Kerala and Mizoram is much higher than national average and a cause for concern.
‘Of 183 Omicron cases analysed, 87 were fully vaccinated’
The Union health Ministry said that of the 183 Omicron positive cases reported in India, three patients have already taken three doses and 121 had a foreign travel history.
“Out of 183 Omicron cases analysed so far, 91% were fully vaccinated with three having booster shots, 70% were asymptomatic, 61% were males,” the ministry said.
ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said, “The predominant strain in India continues to be Delta, including the recently identified clusters. Therefore, we need to continue with the same strategy of following Covid-appropriate behaviour and ramping up vaccination.”
Infection due to Omicron variant “does not necessarily lead to severe symptomatic clinical disease”. In India, about a third of all the detected cases were mildly symptomatic and the rest were asymptomatic, he underlined.
“Therefore, I want to emphasise that the treatment for Omicron infected symptomatic individuals remains the same. It does not change from that for Delta, Alpha or the Beta variant.”
Meanwhile, India has reported 360 Omicron cases so far and 114 people have recovered from the variant.
Govt urges private health sector to be ready to face Omicron threat
The Centre urged the private health sector to be ready as it has to play an important role in managing the pandemic.
“I would now like to request the private health sector also to prepare to include them in the entire health system level preparedness. The private sector has played and continues to play a very important role in managing the pandemic at the national level,” VK Paul said.
ICMR on vaccine booster shots
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that they are reviewing scientific data to formulate a policy on booster shots.
“Deliberations are underway. We are reviewing scientific data to formulate a policy,” said Dr Balram Bhargava.
As a working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) recommendations is still under process over booster dose and vaccination for children, Dr VK Paul, member Niti Aayog said, “Decision on the booster and children’s vaccination will be based on science.”
Several states impose curbs
Keeping in mind the current Omicron scenario in the country, several states on Friday imposed curbs ahead of the celebration of Christmas, New Years Eve and other festivities.
Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government decided to impose 11 pm to 5am night curfew from December 25 following Covid-19 concerns in the country. No more than 200 people will be allowed at weddings, the order said.
A government official said that there were “no specific orders for political rallies so far” though people will be ‘encouraged’ to wear masks.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that every single passenger coming from outside in the state should be duly traced.
Gujarat
The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office notified that night curfew will be in force from 11pm to 5am daily in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar and Junagadh from 25th December.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh administration will ban entry of those not fully vaccinated at public places from January 1, 2022; Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed.
Odisha
The Odisha government imposed new restrictions which will be in force from December 25 to January 2, the government said in an order.
- A maximum of 50 participants can join the Christmas mass by strictly following Covid-19 protocol and specific conditions imposed by district magistrates, municipal commissioners and local authorities while giving permission for it.
- ‘Zero Night’ celebrations and New Year eve celebrations in hotels, clubs, restaurants, parks, convention halls, kalyan mandaps and other such venues are completely banned across the state.
- No celebrations other than weddings will be allowed in the state. Reception and ancillary functions connected to weddings too will not be allowed.
- No community feast is allowed and no social gathering, rallies, orchestras, dance and other cultural programmes are allowed.
(With agency inputs)
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