Dr.M.A.Aleem: November 2021

Omicron The New Variant of Concern

The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021 in South Africa and it was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November 2021.

This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning and this variant of concern (VOC) is named as Omicron by WHO on 26.11.2021.

First, This variants of SARS-CoV-2 are named after Greek alphabets, but for naming omicron, the experts skipped two letters Nu and Xi and chose omicron instead.

As per WHO, this VOC has been demonstrated to be associated with one or more of the following changes at a degree of global public health significance such as increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology,

increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation or

decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics measures in this VOC infection management.

In India as per our Prime minister Modi 's instructions,

our Ministry of Health and Family Welfare adds Hong Kong and Israel to the list of countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing considering the detection of new COVID variant 'Omicron' in South Africa.

And also Countries from where the travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India are South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, countries in Europe including the UK.

Individuals are also reminded to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.

BMJ British Medical Journal

Editor's Choice

Covid 19: A strong pandemic response relies on good data

BMJ 2021; 375 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2668 (Published 04 November 2021)

Cite this as: BMJ 2021;375:n2668

Rapid Response

Re: Covid 19: A strong pandemic response relies on good data

Dear Editor

India has a Good COVID-19 control Response

As of today the total current COVID-19 cases in India are 34,333,199 million with 459,880 deaths.

The current recovery rate is 99% and the death rate is 1%.

At present the active COVID-19 cases are 0.43% in India

As of today In the state of Tamilnadu, the total cases were 2,706,493 . The recovery rate is 98.26 % and the death rate is 1.34%. The active COVID-19 cases are 0.43% in Tamilnadu.

As per WHO In the current weekly statement

7.1 new cases per 100 000 (a 9% decrease) of COVID-19 cases were reported along with

0.3 new deaths per 100 000 population. In India

As of today 0ver 108 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered across the country in all states in India. . So far over 24.5 % of the population were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in India with its largest COVID-19 vaccination program .

Competing interests: No competing interests

05 November 2021

M.A. Aleem

Emeritus Professor of Neurology * Visiting Specialist in Neurology ** Consultant Neurologist ***

The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University * Dhanalakshami Srinivasan Medical College ** ABC Hospital ***

Chennai 600032* Perambalure 621212** Trichy 620018*** Tamilnadu India

@drmaaleem