Milder Omicron

It’s being described as a qualified good-news story, but with a strict warning against letting the guard down and ‘getting ahead of ourselves’. Two studies suggest that compared with previous variants of the coronavirus, the Omicron infections more often result in mild illness, offering hope that the surge may be less disastrous than feared. Though early evidence suggests that fewer people are needing hospital treatment, the bigger concern is the sheer number of cases that could overwhelm hospitals because of the incredible rate of transmission. Already, a lakh cases have been reported in a single day in the UK. The reduction in severity is considered to be a combination of the fundamental properties of the new variant as well as high levels of immunity from vaccinations and previous infections. A deeper understanding of the severity of Omicron is still being advised.

As the number of Omicron cases in the country crosses the 350-mark, a poignant reminder of the horrifying scenes of the second wave has come from the Allahabad High Court. The judge has been forthright in pointing to the likely contribution of panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal Assembly polls to a rise in infections that led to many Covid-19 deaths. The certainty of lakhs attending rallies without observing any Covid protocols has prompted the Bench to urge the Centre for putting a stop to political gatherings in election-bound states, and even consider putting off the UP polls.

It is a tough call and there will be fierce resistance, but the Election Commission, which faced criticism for inaction earlier this year, needs to mandate lesser crowds and virtual campaigning wherever possible. As the PM has asked officials to remain alert and tasked them with ensuring fully-functional oxygen-supply equipment in states, making an exception for the elections will only encourage non-compliance elsewhere. Already, to overcome the reluctance to take the jab, stringent curbs have been announced for the unvaccinated by several states, including Punjab and Haryana.

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