Tag: Omicron

As state awaits the genome sequencing reports of 246 foreign returnees, Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra, on Wednesday (Dec 8) informed that four persons who have returned from at-risk countries tested positive for Covid-19.

In the backdrop of the Indian Medical Association's warning of a massive third wave of Covid pandemic, people in Odisha have set their eyes on the result of genome sequencing reports of 246 Covid positive patients in the State. 

The results suggest a sub-group of patients who would likely benefit from this therapy, and they highlight the need for additional studies in the development of this therapy.

State Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra on Tuesday (Dec 7) claimed that till Monday evening, not a single person who has arrived in Odisha from ‘at risk’ countries has tested positive for Covid-19.

Most of the vaccines, in general, have demonstrated their effectiveness against new variants including Delta in preventing hospitalisations and deaths. However, their effectiveness seems to be waning rapidly over time (6 to 9 months after 2nd dose), necessitating booster doses to those at high risk and to all adults if sufficient vaccine supplies are available.

Amid rising threat of ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid-19, as many as 9 girl students studying at a residential school at Dasrathpur in Jajpur district tested positive for the virus on Monday (Dec 6). Reports said that the infected girls were students of Class 6 and 9 at the government-run school.

With Omicron starting to engulf India, the third wave of coronavirus could hit the peak by February with daily cases in the country expected to reach up to 1-1.5 lakh. This information was recently shared by IIT scientist Manindra Agarwal, who is involved in the mathematical projection of trajectory of COVID-19.

While 50 per cent of the adult population in India has received two doses of the vaccine, and 84 per cent has received one dose, children are yet to be inoculated in the country.

As Omicron is found to have more than 30 mutations in its spike protein, the main concern over its outbreak is whether disease severity is similar, milder or more severe than with the other variants.

As many as 246 persons out of the total number of travelers who returned to Odisha from other countries after November 24 have tested positive for Covid-19.

The ILS Director said that compared to the first and second wave, both the Centre and Odisha government have adopted a proactive approach and focus is being given on testing and tracking of the returnees.

NEET PG Counselling: Amidst Threat Of ‘Omicron’ Variant, Resident Doctors Protest To Expedite Process, Threaten To Boycott All Services.

Even amid the emergence of new variants like Omircron, vaccination remains one of the strongest pillars of protection against disease and infection, according to experts.

Following Union Health Secretary’s concerns over ‘rising Covid infection and fatality rate in certain districts of Odisha’, director of State Health Services, Bijay Mohapatra clarified that Odisha is in a much better position as compared to the national trends.

Amid growing concerns over Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19, international travellers arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar as well as Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda are being strictly monitored.