Thread by @PIBMumbai

So we are 'Getting the Basics Right about the Third #COVID19 Surge'

Today, 03rd Feb at⏰2 PM

Director, @icmr_niv, Prof. Priya Abraham and Doctor @RajeevJayadevan will answer your queries during Q&A session

Join our webinar

Live from⏰2 PM🎥

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Join our webinar 'Getting the Basics Right about the Third #COVID19 Surge'

Director, @icmr_niv, Prof. Priya Abraham and Doctor @RajeevJayadevan are here to answer your questions

Please post your Qs in the comments section🎥

The Centre has played the role of a catalyst; has shared the best #COVID19 practices adopted by one state with the other states to adopt and follow

- DG(West Zone), @MIB_India, Manish Desai speaks about initiatives taken by Govt. to fight the #Pandemic

AIIMS Telemedicine YouTube channel has become a useful repository (during #COVID19)

Initiatives like eSanjeevani OPD telemedicine portal that facilitates online consultation is commendable; nearly 2.5 Crore teleconsultations taken place through this

- DG(West Zone), @MIB_India

#OmicronVariant is 5th 'Variant of Concern'

Alpha Beta, Gamma, Delta and now #Omicron is the recent VoC

#Omicron has a lot more mutations in its genome - more than 50 mutations, which reflects in 30 amino acid changes in its spike protein
- Dir., @icmr_niv, Prof. Priya Abraham

With #OmicronVariant, there is a significant increase in the infection of younger people

We know, if #COVID19 #Pandemic affects younger age-group, overall impact will be milder because age is a strong risk factor for severe disease
- Dr. @RajeevJayadevan

Younger People are tending to have flu-like illness; flu is not same as common cold

Flu is a severe illness where you are incapacitated for a few days, severe pain in joints, muscles, you feel weak, dehydrated, unable to get up at times

- Dr. @RajeevJayadevan on #COVID19 surge

In older individuals #OmicronVariant aggravates the underlying health conditions and in a few select individuals particularly those not #Vaccinated - this virus has taken lives as well

- Dr. @RajeevJayadevan

Common Symptoms of people infected with #OmicronVariant

Fever, sore throat, upper respiratory symptoms, body pain

In young children, a few report febrile seizures; most children have a 2-day history of fever and quickly get better

- Doctor @RajeevJayadevan

#OmicronVariant happens to evade immune response generated in a person who is previously infected or #Vaccinated

Because of its immune evasion, #Omicron is associated with higher transmissibility which explains the surge recently in our country

- Director, @icmr_niv

Are there 2 parallel #COVID19 surges caused by #Delta Variant & #OmicronVariant ?

No. Earlier there was such a condition.

But now, it is completely dominated by #OmicronVirus and its sub lineages; 2 of its 3 sub lineages are circulating in our country

- Director, @icmr_niv

Any of the strains of #COVID19 virus must be curtailed; the more the virus spreads in new individuals the more it will try to adapt and undergo genetic changes

- Director, @icmr_niv

We are aware that #OmicronVariant has caused milder infection but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down

- Director, @icmr_niv

Testing capacities in our country have considerably improved during this#COVID19 #Pandemic

Several hundred Govt. as well as Pvt. laboratories have developed capacities to do an RT-PCR test

- Director, @icmr_niv

Most RT-PCRs we do can trace #OmicronVariant

INSACOG is running a surveillance doing whole genome sequencing - monitoring and surveilling whether there are new variants coming up

Our labs are very much equipped to take even future challenges if any

- Director, @icmr_niv

In mild #COVID cases and healthy individuals who are being treated at home,

body has the ability to fight off this infection in most instances

There is no need for an obsession for pills/injection to get rid of the virus

- Doc. @RajeevJayadevan

When you are in home isolation pay attention to keep ourselves well hydrated; make ORS and have regularly

When body goes through an infection, it tends to get dehydrated - where your muscle strength comes down which may eventually lead to hospitalization

-Doc. @RajeevJayadevan

Unless there is a specific indication, there is no need to take any antibiotic; very few people need an antibiotic

It is important to sleep well; stay away from scary news/articles about the illness

Have home-cooked that is easy to digest

-Doc. @RajeevJayadevan

For severe cases, for people who are hospitalized the treatment is largely the same as that of Delta variant

Only difference is the use of monoclonal antibody - which attacks the spike protein of the virus

-Doc. @RajeevJayadevan