Wait and watch policy for Omicron

IndiGlobal Media Bureau,

One in every 10 people is infected with a sore throat, cold, cough and fever in the country. To determine whether it is normal flu or SARS-Cov 2 virus is a challenge as the RTPCR tests are negative for many. This is because the virus is moving out of the body in two days. Yet the population is to see a maximum number of cases of sore throat, cough, cold, fever, body pains and headache by mid-February in major cities of the country. Large metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad are to witness a peak in cases from January 20^th onwards. Other cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai to witness a peak in the first week of February.
Ninety percent of the cases are of mild infection only. Hospitalizations are expected to be less than one percent in the intensive care units. It will be only for those who have suffered from a long-term illness.

Challenges noted due to the spread of Infection

• Panic levels in people are high as they fear that they will require oxygen support – due to this anxiety attacks are high.
• Home-testing is being done repeatedly leading to a shortage of kits.
• Fear is driving a section of people to carry out multiple tests in different laboratories to ascertain whether they have contracted Omicron or any other new variant.
• Fear is also driving people to hospitals to opt for treatment therapies like monoclonal antibodies cocktail which costs as high as Rs 65,000 per injection. It is not proven whether it works against Omicron.
• Experts state that it is a futile exercise to evaluate the strain of the virus and people must not indulge in these academic profiles of viruses and waste their resources.

Dr Jagadeesh Kumar V, Consultant Physician Internal Medicine, KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad: Ninety percent of the cases are of the new variant but there is unnecessary money being spent on identifying the strain of the virus. People are obsessed to know whether they are suffering from the new strain Omicron. Many are testing negative despite the symptoms as the virus is passing through them in a span of two days. The third wave has begun and it will soon end if we follow the safety rules of masks, hygiene and no mass gathering.

Dr Pragnesh Joshi, former National Vice-President of Indian Medical Association, Gujarat: All major cities of Gujarat are reporting high numbers of cases but they are all mild. Having said that, we have to wait and watch. Prevention is best and mass gatherings must be avoided to prevent further spread. Hospitalization is limited.

Dr Ramkrishna S Londhe, President, Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra: The infection is only in the throat so it is presented as normal flu. This is now the sign of End of the Pandemic. The vaccines are working and it shows that it has offered protection against the new variant.

Dr D Lavakumar Reddy, past President, Indian Medical Association, Telangana: In Telangana the rise in cases is gradual and we are expecting a peak in February. The cases are all mild and hospitalizations are not expected to be high. We are asking people to be cautious for the next 6 to 8 weeks as it is an evolving situation.

Post-Covid symptoms are not expected with the Omicron variant as there is infection only in the throat and there is no invasion in the lungs. Yet, there is a wait and watch policy by healthcare professionals as the status will be known only in the next six weeks.

By
Kaniza Garari
Senior Assistant Editor