Shocking news!! Omicron sub - variant BA.2 identified in 92% samples in TN!!
Posted on: 29/Mar/2022 9:41:31 AM
At a time when things have become normal after the third Coronavirus infection wave has been brought under control, here comes another piece of news that could make many people in Tamil Nadu feel shocked!!
The news is that 92% samples that were sequenced in March in Tamil Nadu had Omicron sub-variant BA.2. This has made many to worry now. The state health secretary, Mr. J. Radhakrishnan cautioned the residents of TN not to be complacent and has asked them to follow Covid- 19 protocols without fail. He communicated with other important officials and said that 925 of samples sent for genomic sequencing in March turned out to be BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron.
The fact is that this sub-variant has been leading to many cases in other countries now. He explained that without affecting or changing the routine activities, surveillance, vaccination and control activities of contact tracing and testing of symptoms would be important.
In January 2022, this BA.2 Omicron sub-variant was identified in 20% of the 514 samples sequenced. At that time, the BA.1.1 sub-variant was the dominant type that was found to be present in 50% samples and BA.1 was found in 29% samples. In February 2022, BA.2 sub-variant was identified in 89.5% of the total 1011 samples that were sequenced. Information collected is that in March sub-variant were identified in 92% of the 59 samples.
The health secretary concluded that the districts should take up control measures to prevent any rise in the cases once again in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is noteworthy that contact tracing and suppressing the Coronavirus totally by means of control measures should be the main objective now. The officials have been asked to make sure that the beds purchased for Covid care centres and more than 23000oxygen concentrators plus ventilators and other equipment were ready at various health facilities in the TN districts.
