January 15
Community Spread Of Omicron Variant In Delhi: Study
As per a new study, there is an evidence of community transmission of the Omicron variant in Delhi.
The study conducted by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, is based on epidemiological, clinical and genome sequence analysis of 264 cases since the day Omicron was designated as VoC by WHO.
This is the first study in India which gives evidence that, Omicron transmission is increasing in Delhi. As observed, cases are growing fast, but hospitalizations’ is not like earlier waves.
Out of the 264 cases included during study period, 68.9 per cent were identified as Delta and its sub-lineages while 31.06 per cent were Omicron with BA.1 as the predominant sub-lineage (73.1 per cent).
Most of the cases were asymptomatic and not requiring any hospitalisations. A total of 72 (87.8 per cent) cases were fully vaccinated.
At least 39.1 per cent had a history of travel or contact while 60.9 per cent showed community transmission.
It is observed that, there is a steep rise in the daily progression of Omicron cases with its preponderance in the community and it was observed from 1.8 per cent to 54 per cent, the study highlighted.
The study also further said, young males were infected more in comparison to children and elderly population, may be due to more socialising and close connections.
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87.7 percent population got re-infected after full primary vaccination. This results suggest a large decrease in protection from vaccine or natural immunity against covid infections caused by the Omicron variant.
As per the study, majority of Omicron patients (60.9 per cent) had no documented international travel history or contact hence evidently they acquired the infection locally.
