Omicron cases up, night curfews in; lockdowns next?

Is Omicron prone to unfold sooner in India?

The union well being ministry has mentioned that there are preliminary indicators of a surge in covid-19 circumstances in addition to elevated detection of Omicron in numerous components of the nation. The World Well being Group (WHO) has already mentioned that there’s constant proof about Omicron spreading considerably sooner than the Delta variant—it warned that social mixing over the vacation interval may very well be harmful. It’s doubtless that individuals who have been vaccinated or have recovered from covid-19 may very well be contaminated or reinfected. India nonetheless has a big non-vaccinated inhabitants, which can trigger a sooner unfold in India.

Is India prepared with the medical infrastructure?

The federal government is readying for a 3rd wave. Because the administration of covid-19 sufferers wants isolation services, the variety of isolation beds have been ramped up—from 10,180 earlier than the primary lockdown to 18,03,266 as on 3 August 2021. Equally, the variety of ICU beds have shot up from 2,168 pre-covid to 1,24,598. India has tried to step up oxygen availability throughout states. As on date, 3,236 strain swing adsorption vegetation have been put in with a complete commissioned oxygen capability of three,783 MT. Furthermore, 1,14,000 oxygen concentrators are being supplied to states below completely different packages.

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What does the nation’s well being statistics say?

It isn’t a reasonably image. In keeping with authorities information, India has 1.4 beds per 1,000 individuals, 1 physician per 1,445 individuals, and 1.7 nurses per 1,000 individuals. In keeping with rural well being infrastructure statistics launched by the union well being ministry, there’s shortfall of 6.8% in allopathic medical doctors at major well being centres, as of March 2020.

What measures have states introduced?

States have began monitoring and elevated testing for Omicron circumstances. As per instructions from the union well being ministry, all travellers coming from nations deemed ‘at-risk’ are being requested to mandatorily bear testing on arrival by means of RT-PCR, adopted by residence quarantine for seven days. A repeat RT-PCR check is finished on the eighth day of arrival. Two % of the travellers from ‘non-at-risk’ nations are examined at random. These testing constructive are subjected to complete genomic sequencing at sure laboratories.

Is there a chance of a lockdown?

There are probabilities India could re-impose curbs. The Centre seems involved over the indicators of a surge in infections. The Union well being ministry, on Tuesday, requested states to impose evening curfew coupled with strict regulation of huge gatherings—Christmas and new yr are across the nook and huge social gatherings may properly develop into an excellent spreader. The ministry has urged states to impose curbs on the variety of individuals who can attend marriages and funerals; limit the numbers in workplaces, industries, and public transport.