India recorded 1,59,632 new cases of the novel coronavirus, along with 327 deaths due to the infection in the past 24 hours.
Highlights
- Children under the age of two years are at higher risk for new Omicron variant of Covid: Doctors
- Patients under the 11-12 years age group show more symptoms of the new variant, doctors added.
- Upper respiratory symptoms are observed more in patients of Omicron variant compared to delta.
Children under the age of two years are at higher risk for the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, said Dr. Dhiren Gupta, senior consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Sunday.
The pediatrics doctor said that patients under the 11-12 years age group show more symptoms of the new variant of the coronavirus, and are at less risk. He added that upper respiratory symptoms are observed more in patients of Omicron variant compared to Delta.
Meanwhile, India recorded 1,59,632 new cases of the novel coronavirus, along with 327 deaths due to the infection in the past 24 hours. According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday (January 9), the country saw a total of 40,863 discharges in the last 24 hours, taking the total recovery rate at around 97.30 percent, and total recoveries data reached 3,44,53,603.
Meanwhile, Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, a Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals said, "We should definitely not take Omicron lightly because a few fraction of the patients will definitely become sick. We are already seeing a rise in hospitalizations. I suppose we don't think that Omicron is that virulent, but if you have underlying uncontrolled diabetes, you have bronchitis or asthma, you're going to become sick. Even before Omicron or even before this COVID came in all these patients who were immunocompromised or who were vulnerable, became sick with any infection. So what I will say is because it is so highly infectious, and so many people are getting infected, you might be young, you might come over it but if you belong to the vulnerable population, then don't take it lightly."
He further said, "So don't take it lightly. There's no reason to panic. That's what I would say. But yes, you cannot take it lightly and you should not throw your guards you should be guarded in your approach till the time we come over this pandemic."
Dr Chatterjee said that few patients are reporting similar symptoms that were reported in Delta-like loss of smell and taste, "We need to see as to what is happening, about a few of my patients have again complained of loss of smell and taste, which I don't know, every individual patient we are not knowing whether it is Omicron or whether it's Delta because we know that is COVID positive, which is important, but I am seeing an overlap of the symptoms".
"But what I don't know is whether this person has Omicron or whether this person has delta. So when in the next couple of weeks, obviously the government will also disclose it. And we from our clinical experience will also know whether there is an overlap or they're having similar symptoms as well.", he added.
(with ANI inputs)
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