Health

Not yet clear if Omicron is more transmissible than other COVID variants, says WHO

Healthcare workers in hospital premises designated for COVID testing. [FPK File Photo/Zainab]

New Delhi: India reported 8,309 COVID infections and 236 fatalities in the last 24 hours. According to the Health Ministry of India, the number of active cases in the country have declined to 1,03,859, the lowest in 544 days.

Amid concerns over the detectability and transmissibility of the new variant, Omicron, the World Health Organisation on Sunday said it is not yet clear whether the variant of concern is more transmissible as compared to other variants, including Delta.

There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants, the global organisation added, according to PTI.

Meanwhile, India has issued revised guidelines for international travellers arriving from “at risk” countries, including the whole of Europe, South Africa and Brazil, mandating testing on arrival, home quarantine for seven days on a negative result, and a retest on the eighth day.

Several states have imposed their own restrictions. For instance, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has requested the GoI to impose a travel ban from high-risk countries. Whereas in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – has started contacting 465 passengers who arrived in the city from the countries of concern including South Africa over the last 15 days.

 

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