On Monday, the World Health Organization warned public against the Omicron variant of Covid 19, sand said, “it would be dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant or that we’re in the endgame”. The global health body’s statement comes at a time when Omicron has entered 171 countries and is increasing in daily Covid cases.
On Sunday, the organization had said that Omicron is soon set to replace Delta globally as a result of its immunity evading potential. It said that Omicron has been found to have a significant growth advantage, higher secondary attack rates, and a higher observed reproduction number compared to Delta.
The WHO found evidence that the Omicron variant infects human bronchus tissue faster and more efficiently than Delta. It has shown a superiority of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract, which is not seen in the Delta variant.
The INSACOG said that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is in the community transmission stage in India and has become dominant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising.
It also said BA.2 lineage, an infectious sub-variant of Omicron which has been found in a substantial fraction in India.