First cases of B.1.1.529, SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron variant) were reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November 2021.
As per the information provided by WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26th November 2021 named the variant B.1.1.529, a Variant of Concern, called the Omicron variant.
It is believed that the Omicron variant which is a new Covid-19 variant is highly infectious with several mutations capable to impact many lives worldwide.
- The Omicron transmissibility is not yet clear whether it is more transmissible (easily spreads from one person to another) as compared to other coronavirus variants or if it causes more severe disease.
- Many people in South Africa have tested positive for Omicron, but investigations are underway to know that it is because of Omicron or other factors. As per WHO, many days or weeks may be required to understand the Omicron variant severity.
- Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, announced in a video published on Twitter that Omicron is a variant of concern because it consists of few properties that may be because of worry. This coronavirus variant holds multiple mutations, and some of these mutations can be harmful to the population.
Omicron variant cases have been detected in many countries including the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Scotland, Belgium, Italy, Israel, Botswana, Australia, and Hong Kong.
A South African doctor, one of the first to detect the Omicron coronavirus variant said that the Omicron symptoms were extremely mild and need no hospitalization.
Omicron Variant of Coronavirus in India
As the new variant of Covid-19 Omicron is spreading across the globe and many countries announcing travel restrictions, the Union Health Ministry of India on Sunday 28th November revised its guidelines for international travelers.
- The Indian government has announced that all international travelers have to compulsory submit 14 days’ travel details and upload a negative Covid-19 (PT-PCR) test report on the Air Suvidha portal before their journey. The Covid-19 RT-PCR test should be done 72 hours before the start of the journey.
- Every individual needs to submit a declaration concerning the report’s authenticity and if found to be false then they will face criminal prosecution. These new Covid-19 rules will take effect from December 1, 2021.
- All international passengers from high-risk countries need to undergo the Covid-19 test upon arrival and wait at the airport till the test results arrive before leaving or connecting to another flight.
If the Covid-19 test result is negative, then they have to follow home quarantine for 7 days, redo test on the 8th day, and if again it’s negative then self-monitor for the coming 7 days, the health ministry said.
If the test is Covid-19 positive, their samples will be sent for further testing for the genomic sequence to the INSACOG laboratory. The Covid-19 positive passengers shall be kept in isolation in a designated facility and treated as per standard protocols including contact tracing.
Passengers from other countries excluding ‘high-risk countries’, a random of 5% of travelers will have to take RT-PCR test upon arrival. If the test result is negative they will have to self-assess themselves for 14 days. If the test result is positive then their Covid-19 test samples will be sent for further testing for genomic sequence.
Effect of Covid Vaccine on Omicron Variant
It is not yet clear how the present Covid-19 vaccines will work against the Omicron variant. World Health Organization (WHO) is working with other healthcare organizations to understand vaccines’ effectiveness on the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. Covid-19 vaccines are important to reduce disease severity and death.
- As per the Bloomberg report, South African scientists have begun to investigate how well the existing vaccines work against the Omicron variant.
- Moderna, Covid-19 vaccine maker is concentrating on producing a booster shot against the new coronavirus variant. The Moderna Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said in an interview to Financial Times that he suspects that the current vaccines may not be efficacious against the Omicron coronavirus variant. In such a case, new vaccines may have to be manufactured on a large scale which may be available only next year.
- Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that they are working on a type of its Covid-19 vaccine mainly concentrating the Omicron variant if the present vaccines are not effective against the new coronavirus strain.