It’s a Wake Up Call. Omicron Already Here, It's Not Coming From Abroad: Former CSIR Institute Chief
News 18Detection of the Omicron variant in a Covid-positive person with no travel history in India affirms that the “heavily mutated” virus is not just coming from airports, but is already here and likely to be present in all major cities, the former chief of CSIR-CCMB told News18.com Former CCMB director Dr Rakesh Mishra, however, said that the positive aspect is that the Omicron variant might be causing negligible symptoms, so despite its probable community transmission, it has not had a huge impact, so far. In fact, most major cities in India, so far, are likely to have this variant.” “While this calls for extensive monitoring and genome sequencing, we must also take this in positive stride that despite its presence in the country, it hasn’t led to increase in hospitalisation or mortality,” he added. Dr Mishra also believes that India is in a “strong” position due to aggressive vaccination drives. If someone is not taking vaccines, that person should be seen as supporting the virus and hence, uncultured.” The Omicron can be fought easily if India closely monitors the unfolding scenario on a granular level followed by people supporting the government in adopting Covid-appropriate behaviour and getting full vaccination, he said.