The Omicron Surge at its Peak

By
IndiGlobal Media Bureau,

There are 2,630 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus detected across 23 states and Union Territories in India. A massive number of 90,928 new Covid-19 cases are registered with Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on January 6th.

Several states including Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are witnessing an exponential rise in Covid-19 cases. Experts suggest that the new Omicron variant is behind this massive spike in cases.

The number of people suffering from Covid 19 has seen a major increase across all states but official reporting is limited. Healthcare workers, Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in hospitals are reporting sickness with throat infections, fever and body aches across the country. Only states with robust tracking data are reporting high cases. The infection is mild but there are cases reporting with low oxygen levels and blood clotting which require care in intensive care units.

Dr Narsinga Reddy, past vice-president of Indian Medical Association in Hyderabad says, “The situation is emerging hence it is a wait and watch for now. The number of people reporting sick is high. In a family two to three people are reporting sick at the same time. This means that families will require social support for meals, medicines and also reaching hospital if their condition deteriorates. We are also seeing a large number of home testing done. People are isolating but are they connecting to the right doctors?”

The treatment options have been flashed across social media groups which are not for all.

Healthcare experts across the country are watching the situation as they believe that the next two weeks will give a clear picture of the spread and impact of the Omicron virus.

IndiGlobal Media Network compiles action taken by different states in the wake of Omicron:

New Delhi:  Delhi is reporting high numbers as there is a system in place where those who test positive are directly reported to government panel. With the rise in cases, New Delhi government has started conducting a lot of tests.

Maharashtra:  The Maharashtra state Health Department will consider lockdown or lockdown-like restrictions after medical oxygen demand for the state goes beyond 800 metric tons/ day or more than 40% of COVID beds in hospitals are occupied. Mumbai has started noting hospitalization with complaints of low-oxygen levels.

West Bengal: West Bengal: 2,075 COVID-19 patients hospitalized; total 403 containment zones, positivity rate 23.17 percent, fatality rate 1.18 percent, 19,517 beds availability. RT-PCR must be used for interstate border area movement; the next 15 days are important.

Odisha: on Thursday recorded its biggest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in five months as 1,897 more people tested positive for the infection, according to their health bulletin.  The fresh infections took the state’s coronavirus tally to over 10.6 lakh, it said.

Haryana: Six more districts of Haryana– Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Rohtak & Jhajjar included in Group ‘A’, to see closure of cinema halls, sports complexes, swimming pools, and entertainment parks. Government and private offices to function with 50 percent staff attendance.

Uttar Pradesh: 2,038 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting to review the situation and directed the officials to declare holiday in all schools up to Class 10 till January 16.

Kerala: State reported 49 fresh cases, government restricts number of people attending events in the wake of the rise in the number of Omicron infections in the state

Telangana: Hyderabad reports 979 new covid cases, holidays cancelled for health staff until further notice in Telangana. Schools and colleges closed from January 8th to January 16th.

Tamil Nadu: Night curfew has been imposed in Tamil Nadu from Thursday and Sunday’s will be lockdown. From January 9th, the metro train services will remain suspended due to the complete lockdown.

Karnataka: Cases have doubled in Karnataka in 24 hours as 4,246 were reported. The government is considering options of night curfew in the state.

Gujarat: There are 3,300 cases reported in Gujarat on a single day and the government is contemplating night curfew in Ahmedabad. There are government and social activities in the state which is the reason for the spike.

Puducherry: Puducherry reports 129 new cases and the state is asking tourists to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour.

Madhya Pradesh: 1,033 COVID cases reported in the last 24 hours, around double the number recorded the day before. The State is seeing a surge due to inter-state movement and Government activities.

Punjab: The government on Tuesday imposed a night curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM due to a surge in Covid-19 cases along with the Omicron variant. The restrictions will be imposed till January 15, 2022.

Uttarakhand: Government to close Universities and also the base camp for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine. This decision is taken to contain the spread and ensure safety of the public.

Jammu and Kashmir: Recorded 104 fresh Covid-19 cases. There are orders issued to fine those not wearing masks as it was observed that local people and tourists are not following Covid Appropriate Behaviour.

Government in Action:

Centre asks 9 States, Union Territories to step up testing Underlining the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and the preponderance of asymptomatic cases. Centre has urged to ramp up testing in all states.

In a letter to Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja pointed out a considerable decline in COVID-19 testing.

Amid rising cases and positivity rate she said, “Omicron is a cause of concern and we should work together to defeat it. We can’t take the new variant lightly.”