Of 161 Omicron cases in country, 88 pc asymptomatic, 13 pc mild: Mandaviya in Rajya Sabha

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 20

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that there were 161 Omicron Covid 19 variant cases in India as of today with 88 pc being asymptomatic and 13 per cent mild.

Of all the patients, 44 had been treated and discharged.

Replying to a debate on Covid 19 management amid din, Mandaviya said the government was fully geared to deal with any potential surge due to Omicron which has spread to 96 nations after its detection in South Africa on November 24.

“We are fully prepared to deal with Omicron and are engaged with experts on a daily basis. We are also expecting in one week the results of an ICMR study on how Omicron would impact vaccines,” Mandaviya said.

He said as of today, 88 pc of India’s adults have received one dose and 58 pc have been fully vaccinated.

“Majority Indian population has been vaccinated,” the health minister said, adding that the monthly indigenous Covid vaccine production capacity of 31 crore doses would rise to 45 crore doses in the next two months.

He said the states had been provided with 48,000 ventilators and buffer stocks of all essential Covid 19 medicines are ready.

Covid treatment protocols remain the same for Omicron as these were for other variants of concern, including Delta, Mandaviya said, adding that India had administered a total of 137 crore Covid shots since January 16, 2021 when the inoculation drive began.