Karnataka Lockdown: Omicron Scare will be imposed new guidelines soon

Karnataka Lockdown After three persons tested positive for Omicron in neighbouring Hyderabad, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday warned that the state government would soon be passing ‘advisories and regulations’ to ensure that people follow COVOD-19 guidelines and protocols strictly.

“Omicron is highly infectious; Masking and social distancing should be practised. It is unfortunate that people are not wearing masks. The Karnataka government would soon be passing “advisories and regulations” to ensure that the Centre’s COVID-19 guidelines are strictly followed,” Dr K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health Minister said to media.

His remarks come a day after Karnataka COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) suggested that government should be considered lockdown in districts only if the weekly test positivity rate (WTPR) goes beyond 5% and occupancy of oxygen beds goes up to 60%. However, the Karnataka TAC has assured the government that the situation is not alarming and there is no need to press the panic button as yet.

“The Karnataka State has fairly geared up and readied the health infrastructure and facilities for a possible third wave. The Government of India recommends lockdown as a last resort when the TPR is over 10% and the occupancy of oxygen beds is about 60%,” The Hindu reported quoting the TAC document.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said that the Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading at a rate not seen with any previous variant. This statement of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus put people into more fear about omicron.

In a media briefing, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director general of WHO, said, “77 countries have now reported cases of Omicron, and the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet. Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant.”

WHO urged that countries can and must prevent the spread of Omicron with measures that work. Vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis.