Just In
- 22 min ago Sonam Kapoor Stuns In A Huisang Zhang Skirt Set, A Skirt-Top Style Guide From The OG Fashionista!
- 3 hrs ago Thrissur Pooram 2024: Date, Time, History, Significance, And Celebrations Related To Kerala's Rich Traditions
- 7 hrs ago Daily Horoscope, 19 April 2024: Gemini Will Have A Controversial Day In Terms Of Love
- 11 hrs ago Kamada Ekadashi 2024 Wishes: Greetings, Messages, Texts, Images, Twitter Status And Instagram Captions
Don't Miss
- Movies Udne Ki Aasha Update | Neha Harsora On Sailee's Bridal Look Being Similar To Priyanka Chopra's Raat Ke Dhai Ba
- News Bengaluru Park Tragedy: Mother Avenges Daughter's Killer After He Stabs Her To Death
- Automobiles Force Gurkha 5-Door SUV – New Features, Dual Tone Interiors & More
- Finance 100 Grams Of 22K Gold Dearer By Rs 5000 In India: Check Yellow Metal Prices After Latest Rise
- Education Jharkhand Board Class 10th result 2024 is OUT; Know steps to check the result
- Technology AltStore PAL Launches in Europe – the First Third-Party Apple App Store
- Sports FIDE Candidates Tournament: Praggnanandhaa holds Nepomniachtchi for draw, Gukesh beats Abasov, Vidit loses; Player Standings After Round 12
- Travel Telangana's Waterfall: A Serene Escape Into Nature's Marvels
Risk Persists Even Though COVID Cases Starting To Plateau In Parts Of India: WHO
Even though some cities or states in India may be beginning to see plateauing of Covid-19 cases, the risk persists and the focus must be on reducing transmission and implementing situation-specific measures, senior WHO official Poonam Khetrapal Singh said.
The Health Ministry said on Thursday that early indications of COVID cases plateauing have been reported in certain geographies in the country but the trend needs to be observed.
Risk Of COVID-19 Remains High
Responding to a question that coronavirus cases have started plateauing in India, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region said the risk of Covid-19 remains high and no country, irrespective of their current transmission scenario, is "out of the woods" yet.
"Hence, even though some cities or states may be beginning to see plateauing of cases, the risk persists. We need to continue to remain vigilant. Our focus must be on reducing transmission. Implementing situation-specific public health and social measures and increasing vaccine coverage - that's the way forward for all countries in the ongoing pandemic," Singh told PTI in an interview.
On January 21, the country reported a total of 3,47,254 new Covid-19 cases after which the daily infection count has been reducing. A decline in Covid cases and positivity rate has been especially observed in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Odisha, Haryana and West Bengal.
"By becoming endemic doesn't mean that the virus will not be a cause of concern," she said.
Compared to the Covid-19's Delta variant, she said Omicron is able to more rapidly infect the tissues of the upper respiratory tract rather than the lungs, which may also help the spread of this variant.
"There appears to be a lower risk of severe disease and death following Omicron infection as compared to other variants. However, due to the very high numbers of cases, many countries have seen a significant increase in the incidence of hospitalization, putting pressure on healthcare systems," she said.
Data suggests that infection with Omicron may be associated with a lower risk of hospitalization compared to infection with Delta, Singh said, but noted that the severity of illness increases with age and in the presence of underlying medical conditions and among people who are not vaccinated.
Need To Rapidly Accelerate Efforts To Vaccinate
She stressed the need to rapidly accelerate efforts to vaccinate all at-risk populations in all countries.
"There is growing evidence on vaccine effectiveness for Omicron, but we still have a lot to learn. So far, we think that vaccines are less effective against Omicron infection and symptomatic disease compared to Delta. Having a booster shot seems to increase protection," she said.
However, vaccines still seem to remain highly effective at protecting people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death, she said, adding that vaccines remain an effective method to reduce the likelihood of severe disease caused by the Omicron variant.
Singh said the emergence of Omicron means that protective behaviours remain critical, such as keeping a safe distance from others, avoiding crowds, wearing a well-fitted mask covering mouth and nose, cleaning hands regularly, keeping indoor spaces well ventilated, and covering coughs and sneezes.
India is presently battling the third wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant. On Saturday, 2,35,532 people tested positive for the coronavirus infection.
- pregnancy parentingMysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China: What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Pneumonia In Children?
- healthCan You Get Back COVID-Related Loss Of Sense Of Smell And Taste (Parosmia)? Looks Like You Can!
- healthDid Covid-10 Vaccination Increase Risk Of Sudden Deaths In Young Adults? ICMR Finds This..
- wellnessDelhi Air Pollution, Air Quality Very Poor: Do Covid Masks Help Reduce Pollution Side Effects?
- healthNobel Prize 2023: Scientists Behind The COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Wins
- healthWhat Is Disease X? 20 Times More Deadlier Than Covid 19; Can Cause 50 Million Deaths, Does It Have Vaccine?
- healthCOVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Attacks: New Studies Show Different Results; What Are They?
- healthDo You Pick Your Nose? Stop! It Can Increase COVID Risk
- healthEris Variant: WHO Alarms New Covid Wave; Should India Be Concerned About This Pandemic
- healthVitamin D Deficiency Linked With Increased Risk Of Long COVID
- healthCOVID Surge In India: Do You Need A COVID-19 Booster Shot?
- healthCOVID-19: IMA Cites 3 Reasons Behind Recent Surge In Covid-19 Cases: What Are They?