Omicron scare: Third Covid-19 wave may hit India by Feb, projected to be milder than second

Amid new Covid-19 variant Omicron scare, the third wave in India could hit the peak by February. Cases are likely to be reaching up to 1-1.5 lakh a day in India, but it would be milder than the second wave, Manindra Agarwal, an IIT scientist involved in the mathematical projection of trajectory of Covid-19, has said. IIT scientist Manindra Agarwal said the new Omicron variant had been factored in the new forecast. “With the new variant, our current forecast is that the country could see the third wave by February, but it will be milder than the second wave,” Agarwal was reported as saying. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="750"] A close watch is being maintained on cases in South Africa, where the variant was first found.[/caption] Also read | Himachal Pradesh: Kufri, Narkanda receive season’s first snow; rain lashes Shimla He said a close watch was being maintained on cases in South Africa, where the variant was first found. As of now, South Africa has not seen a rise in hospitalisation due to new Covid-19 variant Omicron. “It looks like although the new variant has shown high transmissibility, its severity is not like the one seen in the Delta variant,” Agarwal said. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="930"] On November 26, the World Health Organisation (WHO) named the Covid-19 virus variant detected in South Africa and some other countries as Omicron.[/caption] On November 26, the World Health Organisation (WHO) named the Covid-19 virus variant detected in South Africa and some other countries as Omicron. The WHO has also classified the Omicron variant as a ‘Variant of Concern’. Experts have expressed possibilities that owing to the genetic modification in the virus, it may possess some specific characteristics. Also read | 'Anti-Sikh' remarks: Kangana Ranaut fails to appear before Delhi Assembly panel, seeks more time While the transmissibility of infection seems to have increased because of this new variant, there is still not enough clarity on whether or not it will cause severe disease and whether it will evade immunity. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="510"] India has so far reported 21 cases of the Omicron variant.[/caption] India has so far reported 21 cases of the Omicron variant, including 17 on Sunday--- nine persons from Rajasthan capital Jaipur, seven in Maharashtra’s Pune district and a fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania. -PTC News with inputs from agencies