Doctors at the Government Corona Hospital at King Institute in Guindy said that though the severity due to the Omicron variant was less, people need to be more careful against the variant due to its high transmissibility. The precautions and treatment protocol being followed against the variant were the same as for the other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

As of Sunday, 63 people with ‘S’-gene drop -a marker for the variant were the hospital has admitted. International travellers who test positive upon arrival in Chennai are also isolated at the hospital.

Dr M Malarvizhi, an assistant professor at the Government Corona Hospital at King Institute in Guindy said that so far no severe symptoms were seen in the Omicron patients. In both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, no oxygen support was required and they had only mild symptoms like cold, sore throat, and cough. But the concern was the high transmissibility of the variant as was evident from the contacts of index cases who tested positive within a day after the index cases turn positive. She also warned that if the transmission was high, caseload would rise and severity and mortality among those with comorbidities and immunocompromised would also increase.

Dr Vigneshwaran, a doctor at the hospital, said that they were making all arrangements to segregate those infected or suspected of the Omicron variant and they do not mingle with other COVID patients.

On Saturday, in a letter to district collectors and other officials, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan had shown concern over the high transmissibility of the variant.

The Director of the hospital, Dr K Narayanaswamy advised everyone not to panic, strictly follow the appropriate Covid-19 precautions, get vaccinated, wear face masks properly, wash hands frequently, maintain social distance, and avoid crowds. Following and understanding the need for precaution will protect people against any COVID variant and this would be a great relief to the doctors and the government.

Source: The New Indian Express