UK, Jan 22: A new form of Omicron named BA.2 has been designated a "variant under investigation," with 426 cases of the Omicron variant sub-lineage confirmed in the United Kingdom (UK), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said Friday. "Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low," with the earliest dated Dec. 6, 2021, the agency said in a statement.
In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) since Nov. 17. At this point, it is not possible to determine where the sub-lineage may have originated, it added.
The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411), while other countries that have uploaded more than 100 samples are India (530), Sweden (181), and Singapore (127), according to the agency.
Meera Chand, incident director at the agency, said new mutations are "expected" as the pandemic continues. "So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than Omicron BA.1, but data is limited and UKHSA continues to investigate." Official figures on Friday showed the UK added 95,787 COVID-19 cases in the latest 24 hours, bringing its total caseload to 15,709,059, and 288 more deaths, taking the national death toll to 153,490.
More than 90 percent of people aged 12 and above in the UK have had their first dose of vaccine, more than 83 percent have taken both shots, and more than 63 percent have received booster jabs.
JAN 23: A new form of Omicron named BA.2 has been designated a "variant under investigation," with 426 cases of the Omicron variant sub-lineage confirmed in the United Kingdom (UK), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said Friday.
"Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low," with the earliest dated Dec. 6, 2021, the agency said in a statement.
In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) since Nov. 17. At this point, it is not possible to determine where the sub-lineage may have originated, it added. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411), while other countries that have uploaded more than 100 samples are India (530), Sweden (181), and Singapore (127), according to the agency.
Meera Chand, incident director at the agency, said new mutations are "expected" as the pandemic continues. "So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than Omicron BA.1, but data is limited and UKHSA continues to investigate."
Official figures on Friday showed the UK added 95,787 COVID-19 cases in the latest 24 hours, bringing its total caseload to 15,709,059, and 288 more deaths, taking the national death toll to 153,490. More than 90 percent of people aged 12 and above in the UK have had their first dose of vaccine, more than 83 percent have taken both shots, and more than 63 percent have received booster jabs.
DELHI, Jan 13: A total of 115 people have died across the world due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 so far, out of which, one death has been reported in India, informed Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.
Addressing the Health ministry briefing here today, Agarwal said, "Total 115 confirmed deaths globally due to Omicron and 1 death in India." "Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta as per WHO...Data from South Africa, the UK, Canada, Denmark suggests a reduced risk of hospitalisation for Omicron compared to Delta," Agarwal said.
Mentioning a steep surge in coronavirus cases across India, he said, "A sharp surge in COVID cases in India with the active cases 9,55,319 today. Emerging states of concern (reporting surge in COVID cases) are Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Gujarat."
"Emerging states of concern reporting high positive rates- Maharashtra with a rate positivity rate of 22.39 per cent, West Bengal 32.18 per cent, Delhi 23.1 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 4.47 per cent," he added.
Agarwal also stated that there are eight countries in Europe that are reporting an increase of cases by more than two times in the last two weeks.
The Joint Secretary further said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation on January 9, the health ministry has revised the discharge policy with severity categorised into mild and moderate cases.
"Mild case discharge after at least seven days from testing positive and non-emergency for three successive days, no need for testing prior to discharge," he further added.
For moderate cases, the Joint Secretary said, "If there is a resolution of symptoms, the patient maintains O2 saturation more than 93 per cent for three successive days (without O2)..such patient will be discharged."
Meanwhile, India recorded as many as 1,94,720 fresh COVID-19 infections and 442 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.
With this, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 3,60,70,510 including 9,55,319 active cases. The daily positivity rate due to this virus in the country is at 11.05 per cent. Active cases account for 2.65 per cent of the total cases.
NEW DELHI: India Wednesday confirmed the death of a man in Rajasthan as the first casualty due to the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
The samples of the 72-year-old man from Rajasthan's Udaipur showed the presence of the Omicron strain, joint secretary at Union health ministry Lav Agarwal said during a press conference in New Delhi.
"The government confirmed the death in Rajasthan has been counted as Omicron death in India. We can say this is the first death in India," Agarwal said.
As per government sources, the patient was diabetic for the past 17 years and it aggravated his situation. It was after his death that they found he was actually Omicron positive.
The man died in a Udaipur hospital on December 31.
Meanwhile, India’s Omicron tally on Wednesday rose to 2,135 cases.
India Today
The first death from the Omicron strain of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Australia, the health department of the state of New South Wales reports.
The first death from the Omicron strain of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Australia, the health department of the state of New South Wales reports.
People around the world are concerned about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Here are the latest expert information about this new variant.
What is the Omicron variant?
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been called a variant of concern by WHO based on the evidence that it has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves. There is still substantial uncertainty regarding Omicron and a lot of research underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk.
How did the Omicron variant develop?
When a virus is circulating widely and causing numerous infections, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more opportunities it has to undergo changes.
New variants like Omicron are a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. It is therefore essential that people get the vaccine when available to them and continue to follow existing advice on preventing the spread of the virus, including physical distancing, wearing masks, regular handwashing and keeping indoor areas well ventilated.
It is also crucial that vaccines and other public health measures are accessible everywhere. Vaccine inequity leaves lower income countries – many of them in Africa – at the mercy of COVID-19. Well-supplied countries must urgently deliver the doses they promised.
Where is the Omicron variant present?
The Omicron variant has now been detected in many countries around the world. WHO reports that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.
Is the Omicron variant more severe than other COVID-19 variants?
Early findings suggest that Omicron might be less severe than the Delta variant, but more data is needed and WHO warns that it should not be dismissed as “mild”. Studies are ongoing and this information will be updated as it becomes available.
It is important to remember that all variants of COVID-19 can cause severe disease or death, including the Delta variant that is still dominant worldwide, which is why preventing the spread of the virus and reducing your risk of exposure to the virus is so important.
Is the Omicron variant more contagious?
Omicron is spreading more quickly than other variants. Based on the information available, WHO believes it is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where there is COVID-19 transmission in the community.
However, being vaccinated and taking precautions such as avoiding crowded spaces, keeping your distance from others and wearing a mask are critical in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we know these actions have been effective against other variants.
Does the Omicron variant cause different symptoms?
There is no information to suggest that Omicron causes different COVID-19 symptoms from other COVID-19 variants.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective against the Omicron variant?
Researchers are looking into any potential impact the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Information is still limited, but there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness and death, and a decline in preventing mild disease and infection. However, WHO reports that so far it looks like the currently available vaccines offer significant protection against severe disease and death.
It is also important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants, such as the Delta one. When it’s your turn, make sure to get vaccinated. If your vaccination involves two doses, it’s important to receive both in order to have the maximum protection.
Is a prior COVID-19 infection effective against the Omicron variant?
WHO reports that early evidence suggests that previous infection could offer less protection against Omicron in comparison to other variants of concern, such as Delta. Information is still limited though and we will share updates as it becomes available.
You should get vaccinated even if you’ve previously had COVID-19. While people who recover from COVID-19 may develop some natural immunity to the virus, we do not yet know how long it lasts or how well you are protected. Vaccines offer more reliable protection.
Do current COVID-19 tests detect the Omicron variant?
The widely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests continue to detect infection of COVID-19, including Omicron.
Are children more likely to contract the Omicron variant?
Research is ongoing into Omicron’s transmissibility and we will update as more information becomes available. However, people who are mixing socially and those who are unvaccinated are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.
How can I protect myself and my family against the Omicron variant?
The most important thing you can do is reduce your risk of exposure to the virus. To protect yourself and your loved ones, make sure to:
Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. Make sure that your hands are clean when you put on and remove your mask.
Keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.
Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces.
Open windows to improve ventilation indoors.
Wash your hands regularly.
When it’s your turn, get vaccinated. WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
How can I talk to my child about the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants?
News about COVID-19 and now the Omicron variant is flooding our daily lives and it is only natural that curious young children will have questions – lots of them. Here are some pointers to keep in mind tips for helping to explain what can be a complicated topic in simple and reassuring terms.
Children have a right to know what is going on, but it should be explained to them in an age-appropriate way.
Invite your child to share what they have heard and listen to their responses. It is important to be fully engaged and take any fears they have seriously. Be patient, the pandemic and misinformation has caused a lot of worry and uncertainty for everyone.
Make sure that you are up to date on the latest information yourself. Websites of international organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization are great sources of information about the pandemic.
If you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together.
Remember that kids take their emotional cues from adults, so even if you are worried for your little one knowing that they might be uncomfortable, try not to overshare your fears with your child.
This article was published by UNICEF
An unvaccinated man living in Harris County, Texas, is believed to be the first victim having died from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the United States, local media reported Monday.
