As scientists learn what makes Omicron different from other versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, let’s have a deeper look into what the virus is and it is potential to wreak havoc in the country.
The first cases of the deadly virus but the milder variant surfaced on the 2nd of December when two men tested positive in the state of Karnataka for the new variant. The new variation is known to be vigorously transformed, with up to 30 changes seen in the spike protein.
Lav Aggarwal, the joint secretary at the union ministry of health and family welfare, told “Two cases of Omicron have been found positive: a 66-year-old male, and a 46-year-old male. We got the results very late last night, All primary and secondary contacts have been identified and are under isolation.”
The carriers were confirmed for the new version after the Genome Sequencing test was conducted under INSACOG.
The World Health Organization (WHO) named Omicron a VOC the following Friday, and the UN wellbeing body proposed that primer proof tracked down an expanded danger of re-disease with this variation, when contrasted with different variations of concern.
As of now, we don’t know about the virus variant as such all we know is that the virus spreads at a rate of 89% more than the previous variants.
November 24th—first case of the variant was reported to the WHO.
November 26th—WHO named the mutation Omicron and classified it as a virus of concern.
December 2nd—First case in India identified.
Currently, India is reporting 1 lac cases every day. Out of these cases, about 1200 cases are of the new variant.
Amid all of this, the question is, could this have been prevented.
The Omicron wave might have been forestalled, the World Health Organization's top researcher Soumya Swaminathan was quoted saying as the new variation seems set to turn into the prevailing strains across the world.
"It was in... the world's hands to forestall this, assuming we had utilized the devices that we have even-handedly all over the planet," Dr. Soumya Swaminathan told.
"What turned out badly can be depicted in numerous ways, including immunization patriotism... I think each country's chiefs needed to secure their own kin... In any case, in a pandemic, you additionally need to remember this that assuming you are not ensuring individuals all over the planet, the infection will change and return an alternate variation," she said.
So far Maharashtra’s tally is the highest with 87000 active cases. Experts warn Maharashtra may start reporting about 2 Lakh cases every day from the third week of January if things continue like this.
What happens is just a tale of time. We all should continue to wear masks and social distance to do our part to stop the spread of the virus.