Evidence has shown that the Omicron variant multiplies at a faster rate thereby causing infection at a faster rate and it has also been found that the new variant is also more capable of evading the immune system than Delta
New Delhi : With nearly 90 countries reporting cases of omicron, health experts in India believe that due to its high transmission rate, the number of cases of the new COVID-19 variant may overtake the pace at which The delta version had an increase in speed during the devastating second. Wave earlier this year.
According to experts, a possible third coronavirus wave is projected to peak in the country in February 2022, it will be mild.
Evidence has shown that the omicron variant multiplies faster causing infection at a faster rate and that the newer variant is more able to evade the immune system than the delta.
They say that if a large population is affected by B.1.1529, the new SARS-CoV2 strain, there may be more sub-classes in the future.
However, the cases reported so far in India are showing mild symptoms like fatigue and sore throat and most of the infected people are recovering from home.
Dr Deshdeepak, Senior Chest Physician, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said: "Omicron has been labeled as a variant of concern by WHO. So far around 90 countries have been affected. It appears to be highly transmissible. So far , the delta variant is the most prevalent strain in the world but with high transmissibility, Omicron can take over the delta variant."
“We may see a spike in cases and we may see another wave as this is a newer variant which is more transmissible than the delta variant. However, cases with mild symptoms have been reported so far,” the health expert said.
The health experts dealing with COVID patients from the very beginning have warned people to strictly follow the proper handling of COVID-19.
Earlier on Saturday, Vidyasagar, who is also the head of the National COVID-19 Supermodel Committee, said that there will be a third COVID wave in India, but it will be mild compared to the second wave.
“India is likely to have a third wave early next year. It should be milder than the second wave because of the rampant immunity that exists in the country. There will definitely be a third wave. Right now, we are at around 7,500. Once Omicron starts displacing Delta as the dominant variant, the cases per day increase," he told ANI.
According to Vidyasagar, in the worst-case scenario, India will have no more than two lakh cases per day in case the country is hit by a third wave.
"I emphasize that these are estimates, not predictions. We can start making predictions when we know how the virus is behaving in the Indian population. Based on our simulations, in the worst-case scenario that we have I.e. vaccination provided due to total loss of immunity and maximum loss of naturally induced immunity, the number of cases remains below 1.7 to 1.8 lakh cases per day. This is half of the peak during the second wave. less than that."
At present, India's Omicron tally has crossed 140 cases including Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and other states.
The new version of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on 25 November. According to WHO, the first known B.1.1.1.529 infection was from a sample collected on November 9 this year. ,
On 26 November, WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as having a 'type of concern'.