Omicron BA.2 takes over in India from Delta

Omicron BA.2 cases in India are on a rise in Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

While the situation does not warrant for panic caution is required due to the rising cases.

Rate of positivity according to the central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from April 17^th to April 23^rd :

• Different parts of Delhi are showing a positivity rate from 5.15 to 8.35 percent
• Maharashtra it is noted that Mumbai is 1.40 percent while other districts are less than 0.05 percent
• Tamil Nadu it is noted that Chennai is 1.18 per cent while other districts are less than 0.06 percent
• Uttar Pradesh has Gautam Buddha Nagar 13.15 percent, Ghaziabad recording 2.41 percent, Ambedkar Nagar 1.47 percent and other districts are ranging from 0.02 to 0.23 percent
• Uttarakhand has noted 2.38 percent in Hardiwar, 1.42 percent in Dehradun and a few districts have positivity rates from 0.18 to 0.029 percent
• Kerala noted in Wayanad recorded 22.16 percent and other districts are ranging from 7 to 10 percent
• 21 districts in different states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram are being monitored as the positivity rate is high

Experts state that the cases are mild and there are also re-infections being noted in many of them. This means that the Covid 19 vaccination term is over or their immunity is compromised due to various reasons of underlying diseases, weather conditions or the re-infection.

What is Omicron BA.2?

Omicron has evolved into a variant with characteristics similar to those of its predecessors Delta and Wuhan Wild Type Virus.

• It has undergone a gradual and progressive transmissibility
• 1 is the first subvariant with R346K mutation
• 2 is the second subvariant containing 8 spike mutations and 13 spike mutations are missing.
• 2 is on the rise from January 2022 and is prevalent in Europe, Asia and the United States of America.
• 1 and BA.2 have completely replaced the Delta variant in the Indian Environment.

According to researchers who have published in Medscape Coronavirus Resource Centre it has been noted that BA.2 has shown significant resistance to 17 out of the 19 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal Antibody cocktails were used for treating Covid 19 during the last phase of Delta variant and also BA.1 of Omicron across the world. In India too, monoclonal antibodies have been used to treat patients who are suffering from co-morbid conditions and above 60 years of age.

• Researchers state that the current monoclonal antibody therapy may have significant limitations in terms of adequate coverage for all subvariants of Omicron.
• Resistance is also noted to Covid 19 vaccines in the Omicron variant

What is the ground reality?

Due to excessive heat and also fewer cases, the culture of masks has taken a back seat –

• People have stopped wearing masks.
• There is also underreporting of cases with cough and cold being the major symptoms.

It’s a wait and watch policy for India presently, as the summer of 2022 has students attending schools, colleges, and universities. With Final exams scheduled for May and June 2022 there is a need for caution.

But there is also the need to continue living with precautions.