Following the detection of a new, highly contagious coronavirus strain in the nation, Indian health officials have urged the populace and local authorities to begin wearing face masks and step up monitoring.
As per reports at least four of the 145 coronavirus infections registered in the past 24 hours were the BF.7 subvariant of the omicron strain that is responsible for the current wave of cases in China. China saw a surge in infections after relaxing its strict COVID-19 restrictions, while data from the World Health Organization shows that infection figures have also risen in recent days in other countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the US.
“In view of the sudden surge of COVID cases in different countries, (the) Indian Medical Association alerts and appeals to the public to follow COVID appropriate behavior with immediate effect,” India’s top medical body said on Thursday.
It also urged the public to “overcome the impending COVID outbreak” by returning to coronavirus protocols such as the wearing of masks and social distancing — practices that have not been mandatory in most parts of the country for several months.
Health experts, however, say that despite the warning it was unlikely there would be a repeat of the situation last year when the highly transmissible delta variant infected hundreds of thousands of people daily and claimed more than 450,000 lives between March and May.
“The new variant might have some effect. It won’t be that bad, but we have to be careful. At the moment there is no panicky situation but definitely, we need to be careful,” IMA secretary-general Dr. Jayesh Lele said.
“The advisory has been issued so that people are alert.”
As per reports at least four of the 145 coronavirus infections registered in the past 24 hours were the BF.7 subvariant of the omicron strain that is responsible for the current wave of cases in China. China saw a surge in infections after relaxing its strict COVID-19 restrictions, while data from the World Health Organization shows that infection figures have also risen in recent days in other countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the US.
“In view of the sudden surge of COVID cases in different countries, (the) Indian Medical Association alerts and appeals to the public to follow COVID appropriate behavior with immediate effect,” India’s top medical body said on Thursday.
It also urged the public to “overcome the impending COVID outbreak” by returning to coronavirus protocols such as the wearing of masks and social distancing — practices that have not been mandatory in most parts of the country for several months.
Health experts, however, say that despite the warning it was unlikely there would be a repeat of the situation last year when the highly transmissible delta variant infected hundreds of thousands of people daily and claimed more than 450,000 lives between March and May.
“The new variant might have some effect. It won’t be that bad, but we have to be careful. At the moment there is no panicky situation but definitely, we need to be careful,” IMA secretary-general Dr. Jayesh Lele said.
“The advisory has been issued so that people are alert.”
