Back9,000 new covid cases reported but it’s not pan-India yet: Scientists
The Union government is concerned about the sharp spike in Covid cases and has directed states/UTs to follow robust genomic surveillance and track severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and influenza like illness (ILI) cases in hospitals.
PremiumThe recent surge in covid-19 cases -- nearly 9,000 were reported in the last 24 hours -- is being driven by BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron and its sub-lineages and is district- and state- specific, medical scientists said.
“The particular covid surge is not countrywide, it’s at the district and state level. Basically, this is district-level uptick or site/locality-specific upsurge," said Dr Samiran Panda, additional director general, Indian Council of Medical Reserch.
“Those who are elderly, immuno-suppressed or have co-morbid conditions should continue to use masks and avoid going into crowded places. India is doing constant genomic sequencing and tracking Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and Influenza Like Illness (ILI) cases in hospitals," he added, .
The health ministry, concerned about the surge, warned “covid not over yet" and directed states and UTs to follow robust genomic surveillance and enforce covid-appropriate behaviour.
On Wednesday, the health ministry said reported 8,822 covid cases with a jump of 2,228 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total active caseload to 53,637.
Delhi alone is responsible for an active caseload of 3,177, while Maharashtra has 18,267 active cases, Kerala 16,278 ,Tamil Nadu 1,632, UP 1,510 and Karnataka 3,882.
Doctors said that most vaccinated people are showing mild symptoms such as fever, sore throat, bodyache, nasal congestion and cough and are making a recovery in 3-4 days.
“The combination of waning immunity post-vaccination or prior infection, easing of all restrictions, reopening of schools and workplaces, increased travel post-pandemic and during vacations, and increased social gatherings have all possibly contributed to the increase in the number of cases," said Dr. Lancelot Pinto, pulmonologist and epidemiologist, PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai.
“Our experience with the Omicron surge in January till now suggests that primary vaccination alone possibly offers good protection against severe disease for most individuals. One could still get infected after a booster dose, but in those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or have comorbidities, a booster will definitely protect against severe disease," Dr Pinto said.
“With new variants of Omicron, it is obvious that vaccination gives limited protection against infection. Fortunately benefit against severe disease, hospitalization and death continues. It is also true that new variants of Omicron are more transmissible and hence lead to infection among people who are previously infected and vaccinated,"said Dr G C Khilnani, chairman, PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine.
“Finally, there is complacency for using mask. The covid infection is there to stay for some time and hence we should be prepared for covid appropriate-behaviour and come forward for booster doses even if the present transmission is low. The future is unpredictable due to new variants pouring in now and then," he added.
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