Covid: New Omicron strain in India a cause for worry?

The first case of Omicron BQ.1 has been detected in India in a sample from Pune. This sub-variant of Covid-19’s Omicron strain has been dominant in the US and is a descendent of Omicron’s BA.5 strain. This comes soon after reports of BF.7 being detected in Gujarat, which is another Omicron sub-variant first found in Mongolia. More than 80% of India’s Covid cases are owing to the Omicron strain BA.2 and its sub-lineages. So, what do the emergence of these other strains mean? To find out, we have with us Umesh Isalkar, a health correspondent with The Times of India who has extensively covered the pandemic. Umesh advises caution but says we need not panic about the sub-lineages of the Omicron variant as most of the population has been exposed to the virus and have subsequently been vaccinated as well. A sizeable chunk of the population has even received booster doses. This ensures a fair amount of protection. But the BQ.1 sub-variant has a Delta-like mutation that makes the infection a little more severe than the other Omicron sub-lineages. The several Omicron strains are definitely more equipped to infect people. So, Umesh insists that preventive steps like using the mask, sanitizers, and social distancing will go a long way in curbing the contagion and reducing the severity of illness, if infected. Stepping up testing measures will also ensure early detection and treatment. The government guidelines clearly say that people with influenza-like symptoms should go for a Covid test. The general population must take those guidelines seriously and get tested, instead of going for an over-the-counter fix.Audio production: Anil Chauhan