As India reports its first death due to Omicron variant, government tightens grip on monitoring the third wave

• India reported its first death due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Rajasthan’s Udaipur.
• The positivity rate has also increased from 0.79% on December 29, 2021 to 5.03% on January 5.
• Keeping in mind the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry advised all the states to strengthen surveillance, containment activities, implement home isolation and to focus on infrastructure augmentation.

India on Wednesday reported its first death due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Rajasthan’s Udaipur. The 73-year-old man who died was found to be infected with the new variant, however, he was tested negative twice for the infection before.

India is once again facing a spike in daily COVID-19 cases and Omicron strain is one of the reasons behind this surge. On January 5, the country reported 58,097 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is 6.3 times higher than 8 days ago.

The positivity rate has also increased from 0.79% on December 29, 2021 to 5.03% on January 5, according to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry in a media briefing on Wednesday.

The Omicron tally in the country has also climbed to 2,135 cases out of which 828 people have been recovered so far and 1,306 are active cases. Out of 24 states and union territories, which have detected Omicron cases, six states have more than 100 Omicron cases.

According to the data by the Union Health Ministry, Maharashtra is the worst-hit state for Omicron with 653 cases, followed by Delhi with 464 cases, Kerala with 185 cases.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, earlier during the day, said, “We are not going to use the vocabulary of a ‘lockdown’ right now and there is no pressing need for it as well. A lockdown means totally shutting off all activities which we are not going to do. However, the challenge at the moment is to make sure that the restrictions already announced are implemented properly.”

Whereas, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, yesterday, announced weekend curfew this week starting from 10 p.m., Friday to 5 a.m., Monday in order to bring down the number of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Keeping in mind the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry advised all the states to strengthen surveillance, containment activities, implement home isolation and to focus on infrastructure augmentation.

How states can strengthen their infrastructure, as suggested by the Health Ministry —

1. States to create enough isolation facilities in hostels/hotels linked with hospitals.
   
2. Strengthen the existing health infrastructure dedicated to COVID-19 roping in the private sector.
   
3. To increase the number of beds, states can create or make shift hospitals.
   
4. States should also focus on rural and paediatric infrastructure.
   
5. Should make sure proper functioning of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) plants, ventilators, and rational use of oxygen.
   
6. Review the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, N-95 masks and buffer stock of COVID-19 related drugs and medicines.
   
7. States should also ensure the capacity building of health care staff.
   

How states can strengthen their surveillance, and implement home isolation, as suggested by the Health Ministry —

1. States should focus on containment zones by imposing restrictions to curb the spread of the infection.
   
2. Revive the surveillance teams for contact tracing and containment.
   
3. States should focus more on home isolation and ensure its effective implementation by district level teams.
   
4. Can use tele-consultation for monitoring the infected patients.
   
5. Revive the district/sub-district/ward level control rooms and publicise their contact numbers and details.

To boost the immunity of the people amid this Omicron wave, the Government has also announced the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine termed as ‘Precautionary dose’ for all healthcare workers and people aged above 60 years, the vaccination programme will kick start on January 10.

The third dose will be the same dose which was previously inoculated as the first and second dose.

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