Absolutely no reason to panic, says top virologist, of Covid surge

News By Chetana Belagere December 23, 2022 Read the article

A surge in Covid cases in China has caused global concern. India’s top virologist, Dr Gagandeep Kang of CMC Vellore, says there is no reason to panic.

[{"selector":"#anim-ba09826f-a32d-4b23-b6a8-f820f5d28ce3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f2186fe-3414-4409-b488-b80a11c06605","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 43.08421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b52add9c-3892-488d-a90f-e3e3a1e03403","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9376e17-a0ae-46e0-931d-5b12e7c2ab5b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.17157%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

Dr Kang says the variant causing China's Covid surge has been in India for a while and has not gone out of control.

[{"selector":"#anim-6fe13e55-f457-456e-abf7-2483e63010f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60414777-c889-4c89-9608-f17b5a35f6b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97acd814-f1ae-4b8c-b7ae-ec1c5c6cb738","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6050c579-a07a-4eef-bc72-c24f54b24235","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.57293%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-576b51d9-2284-4371-a7c3-d625b449844b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.654761790987628%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

At the moment, none of the Omicron variants have been worse than the Delta variant that India has seen.

[{"selector":"#anim-b444c16a-ff1e-4bb2-b123-c04982e2674f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dee5f0b0-d603-4691-b94e-2706695269f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 37.58215%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9251d504-d12e-4782-842d-522cff762ed5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdc1a944-d1b2-4591-a62c-28b4863a7b12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.13748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ed3704f-b5bf-49f2-9648-6fa94db3b359 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.05602777589051%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

There is, however, a need to keep a close watch. “The only thing that can change the situation here is if we see a new variant.”

[{"selector":"#anim-ce9f632d-ef85-47b0-88aa-e8c384482dc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbd32430-7a8b-49fc-aef4-83f8751a4131","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a431b45e-e152-4f65-9203-5a7a44666404","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca2de5d0-de36-4980-9ffa-0abe8661c2a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.57293%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2c9f2e1-d773-4474-b203-a1506aa71c83 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.431547505273336%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

The government “should see if the variant is transmissible, is capable of causing severe disease. Then we will have something to worry about.”

[{"selector":"#anim-b4df6485-54ab-4135-a9ed-8f2fa1c5e2f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26a31619-0cfa-4818-8e25-18c4a14ea44d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d8fe89d-bbbd-4ca5-8c11-d3c61d946147","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33120aa1-d807-4f81-b876-f02a4cb14092","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.85183%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77595b82-0225-495d-b95d-726de32df45c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.58946936971817%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

Sequencing of strains detected in traveller from abroad is a worthwhile precaution, but introducing Air Suvidha forms may not be of much help.

[{"selector":"#anim-9ee5741b-9682-4f32-92db-e0307e3dfe10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3b78bf6-61a3-4460-b626-80322ec1f192","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.67156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5e261e1-3b95-4d2a-97b6-447a172f0c4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e466df01-f22e-47bf-9463-15eab72a7739","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.25319%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f50defb-d06c-44ad-a29b-a3fcad42f9a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.85416655289239%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

“In terms of vaccination, we have known that with Omicron, vaccination doesn’t mean much and it can infect quite frequently.”

[{"selector":"#anim-48eebbdf-61e1-4a17-9685-f8211cad094b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f375c1a-cb1e-41c6-905e-34a8ea3229b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.67156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14ddf2b7-16d5-468e-8692-d550d54f0011","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68a9759e-132e-459e-8639-1d47cd268c9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.25319%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12107a35-dacc-414d-a7bb-a6eef9a67198 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

She said that, in general, we should have a baseline of sequencing across the country.

[{"selector":"#anim-70e3068a-f445-4b1a-83a2-eaf5e364d944","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6241d7ad-a886-4061-8cf3-97115ba094a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 35.79398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73eb9006-4657-4911-93d1-20fe315affab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c46ecd81-5ab9-4f8a-87db-44aac4f9ba8e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 193.58022%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9af5590e-8b86-44ad-aff9-f96134fd3a27 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.1406247824067%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

Dr Kang said testing is important for severe disease and emerging clusters. But in India, there is no such situation as of now.

[{"selector":"#anim-a5ab6d2e-2dad-4ba4-a3bc-956557776f4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e6a75c2-801b-4b1b-ae8d-a56efc733f54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.67156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b309d7a-dacb-4c7b-b77a-3c590371f9a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0186ec12-8c15-4621-9c41-9fbdf09a0912","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a2a2c6c-b6a9-4558-b7b3-6fd942d12a33 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-36.071185833307034%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

What the Indian government is trying to do is to be ready to sequence; making sure that our preparedness is in place, said Dr Kang.

[{"selector":"#anim-d0443dd1-f722-4171-8f3c-7db27895e88a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72f336f3-ce4b-4e75-b296-a06e8b52bf58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.67156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5479b1a5-1f66-4349-a3f6-017983a35541","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e1715df-02de-41ea-9a03-4c951d6e8fc3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b269ecf-1f4b-418b-837a-240f44102265 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-11.298746283268143%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] News Read the article

While all this is good, hyping things up and declaring mandates when nothing has changed from the last couple of weeks is unwarranted.

[{"selector":"#anim-b51ce546-8419-4dcb-91f6-6e23c5041698","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df24e165-075d-4272-b24a-8636d015c549","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.67156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e432bbc-e8ae-492f-bdc1-a22057476b90","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-579a1b71-fe63-4066-84f0-72a0295d5ed9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d664f5e0-fb82-4a9f-9fac-0551ce8377fa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.96130943279009%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25c6d70c-820a-4b55-8f30-37b3ddab586b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.20712%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-634644f0-2889-4686-9177-7be0b2e57d59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b57a332-df9f-4df7-befb-5908ccd08545","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] News Read the article