Omicron Threat - How Prepared Are We?

Covid-19 has changed the healthcare landscape in the country; hospitals faced challenges that were unanticipated in scale when the pandemic struck nearly two years ago.

- Abhai Soi

We, at Max Healthcare, responded with agility to mobilise resources, found reserves that we thought didn’t exist and fought the virus, with a warlike resolve. On the way, we learnt innumerable lessons and incorporated these learnings in our response as we faced waves of infection. As the Omicron threat now looms large over the country, we are better prepared to deal with the crisis than ever before.

The Variant

The new Covid-19 variant – Omicron, was first reported in South Africa, recently. The number, type and location of mutations in Omicron strain are a big concern for the scientific world as it can potentially make it much more transmissible and reproducible inside human cells. The virus is reported to penetrate human cells easily and could potentially evade (most likely partially) immunity given both by natural disease and by the vaccine. One still doesn’t know how severe the disease it can cause. It may take a few weeks to understand its true impact and the severity of the infection it causes.

Preparedness – Infrastructure & Resources