How India Needs To Prepare To Fight New Omicron Coronavirus Variant

Omicron, the name of the latest variant of the coronavirus which started in South Africa, is sending panic waves across the world.

The SARS-CoV2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has made its biggest change so far - as in the Omicron variant it has made 50 mutations: 30 of these are on the spike protein, the part of the virus which is used to enter the human body.

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It is worrying as most vaccines target spike protein to work on the virus, and that is why Omicron is urgently being studied to find if it has the ability to partially evade vaccines. Worst part of the news is that it has 10 mutations on its binding domain, the part with which the virus attaches itself to the human cell. The Delta variant, which we experienced in April-May 2021, had only 2 such mutations.

Also Read: Omicron Variant: Three Graphs On Why It Could Be Worse Than Delta Covid Variant

This makes Omicron potentially far faster at spreading than any other version of coronavirus. The initial signs from South Africa are showing this fear come true. However, the relief so far is that Omicron is also showing milder symptoms compared to Delta.

Omicron goes to show that the world is still some time away from declaring a total victory on the coronavirus. Yes, vaccines are protecting us - and now we are a few months away from pills for Covid-19. But yet, the virus has a path of its own - and that path is very unpredictable, and usually extremely fast. We had our worst tryst with the virus in April this year - when the Delta virus which started in India sent our entire healthcare system into a firestorm. While we recovered from the situation, yet few would forget the oxygen crisis on roads and the endless scene of death ripping families apart. Those scenes must never be repeated, never.

We are fortunate that Omicron is still miles away from us, and we have time to prepare this time. We must not waste this window of opportunity to fortify our healthcare system. There is a strong chance that within the next 2-3 months, omicron will come to India -- and if we are prepared to handle it -- we can reduce the wave to a thin line. What it needs is action on five fronts.

AFP

First, the government needs to immediately conduct a fresh oxygen audit of all hospitals. In the Delta variant there was a mad rush to big cities for treatment which clogged the healthcare system to the verge of collapse. We must design digital dashboards to monitor the oxygen supply of rural hospitals too. We already have developed a vast production and supply chain of oxygen in 2020, this system must be tested for stress if patient load increases suddenly.

Second, the drug storage and supply chain must be secured. We all remember the times when Remdesivir was sold at 20 times the price in black market. This can be avoided this time. We know what works and what does not work in covid. District authorities must identify supply and storage chains at Tehsil levels. The same should be done to medical oxygen cylinders and concentrators - we need to know right now where to find relief if need arises.

Third, India must be cautious about opening up foreign travel. Omicron will come from foreign lands - and if we can impose strict monitoring on incoming travellers - we might be able to delay the variant. The more we delay Omicron the better we would know how it behaves and hence how it can be defeated.

Reuters

Also Read: Why Social Distancing Matters For India's Nurses, Doctors And Poor People

Fourth, India needs to do its own vaccine check against omicron variants. We need to see how Covishield and our home grown Covaxin work against the variant. We need to be prepared for a surge in vaccine demand if the variant comes to us - that stock of vaccines must be immediately acquired.

Lastly, this is a people¡¯s mission. If you are planning a new year trip abroad, avoid it. If you are still delaying the vaccine, get it. If you still are not sure, check your antibody against covid. Follow the simple steps of social distancing, masking and washing hands. We do not need to stop the economy or work life, but at the same time, we should avoid unnecessary risks. Precaution is the best cure of coronavirus.

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India is much better prepared now to handle any variant than most countries around the world. We are not the March 2020 nation which was caught by surprise by Delta. But that should not make us reckless, and Omicron must be treated as if it is a new virus itself. We must also be aware of further mutation beyond Omicron. In March this year, we saw now there was a double mutation as the UK variant spread across India. The pandemic is lessened, but it is not over and India must be cautious and never forget the lessons Delta taught us in April 2020.

About the author: Srijan Pal Singh was the Adviser for Technology and Policy to the 11th President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and is currently the CEO of Kalam Center, New Delhi. Views expressed here are author's alone.