RAISE VIGIL AGAINST VARIANT, SAY DOCS

Medicos say the treatment protocol against Omicron is same as that for other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Warn if caseload rises, more vulnerable people will get infected, and mortality rate will increase

- SINDUJA JANE

DOCTORS at the Government Corona Hospital at King Institute in Guindy, who have treated 23 confirmed cases of Omicron so far, said the precautions and treatment protocol in place against the variant have been the same as for the other SARSCoV-2 variants. They, however, added that people need to be extra careful against the variant because of its high transmissibility.

The doctors said they have observed that the transmissibility of the variant is high, but its severity is less. “We haven't seen any (Omicron) patient with severe symptoms so far. No one has in fact required oxygen support. They have only mild symptoms like cold, sore throat, and cough. This has been the case even among the unvaccinated,” said Dr M Malarvizhi, an assistant professor at the hospital.

Dr Malarvizhi, however, said the speed of infection of the variant has been high as contacts of index cases have tested positive within a day after the index cases turn positive; this shows how infectious the variant is, she added.