Lok Sabha Question No. 3233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Omicron Variant
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli, Anumula Revanth Reddy, Nama Nageswara Rao, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Ritesh Pandey, Sanjay Seth, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Shrirang Appa Barne, Rakesh Singh, Sougata Ray, N.K. Premachandran, Anto  Antony, Uday Pratap Singh, Mangal Suresh Angadi, Prajwal Revanna, Sunil Kumar Singh, Hema Malini, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Lallu Singh, Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Prataprao  Jadhav, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Badruddin Ajmal, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Pratima Mondal, Ravneet Singh, S. Jothimani, Sudheer Gupta, Balak Nath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3233 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## OMICRON VARIANT

## 3233.   SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI:

SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

SHRI SANJAY SETH:

SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

SHRIMATI ANGADI MANGAL SURESH:

SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAY VASANTH:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR:

SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BALAK NATH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- a) whether cases of Omicron variant of Covid 19 has been detected in the country so far, if so, the details thereof and the deaths reported State/UT-wise;

- b) whether Omicron is highly transmissible and fatal than the Delta variant capable of infecting fully vaccinated persons;
- c) if  so,  the  measures  taken,  preparations  made  to  tackle  Omicron  and  the  extent  of  the effectiveness of the indigenously developed vaccines against Omicron;
- d) whether the Government proposes to ban international travel to India/ impose restrictions on passengers by testing and monitoring them to curb the new variant, if so, the details thereof;
- e) whether the Government propose to develop new vaccines and expand genome sequencing centres, if so, the details thereof  along with the  advisory  issued to States/UTs for the new variant based on WHO reports to member nations; and
- f) whether the RT-PCR test can detect Omicron, if so, the details thereof, if not, the revised testing guidelines issued thereof and the details of the labs/ hospitals available for testing the new variant, State/UT/ location-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (f): A  total  81  cases  with  Omicron  variant  with  no  deaths  have  been  reported  in  the country (data as on 16 th December 2021). This includes Maharashtra (32 cases), Rajasthan (17 cases), Delhi (8 cases), Karnataka (8 cases), Gujarat (5 cases), Kerala (5 cases), Telangana (2 cases) and Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (1 case each).

According to World Health Organization, based on current limited evidence Omicron variant is spreading faster than the Delta variant, also, there are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron and more data are needed to understand the severity profile. There are limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron. The  currently  available  RT-PCR  tests  for  COVID-19  as  validated  and  approved  by  Indian Council of Medical Research continue to detect Omicron variants.

Ministry of Health & FW on basis of risk assessment reviewed the existing travel guidelines and a revised 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' was issued on 28 th November 2021 (revised on 30 th November 2021).

As per the guidelines, regions/countries have been re-classified as 'at-risk' based on epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in these regions/countries and/or reporting of Omicron variant from these countries. List of such 'at-risk' regions/countries is dynamic in nature and has been updated from time to time.

All travelers coming from countries deemed 'at-risk' will also mandatorily undergo COVID-19 testing on arrival through RT-PCR, followed by mandatory home quarantine for 7 days. A repeat RT-PCR testing shall also be done on 8 th day of arrival in India to be monitored by State Health Authorities. Two percent of travelers from 'non-at-risk' countries will be tested at random for COVID-19.  Individuals  tested  positive  shall  be  subjected  to  Whole  Genomic  Sequencing  at

identified  INSACOG network laboratories to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Omicron).

Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  is  coordinating  and  collaborating  with  other  stakeholder Ministries/departments  including  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and Waterways, Ministry of Railways etc. Further Port/Airport Health Officers at International ports/ airports have been instructed to ensure strict health screening, testing of incoming international passengers and referrals of suspect/confirmed cases.

Further,  Union Ministry of Health & FW is in regular interaction with all States/UTs through formal  communication  as  well  as  through  video  conferencing.  States/UTs  have  been  urged  to undertake the following activities:

-  Strict monitoring of International travelers in the community.
-  Contact tracing of positive individuals & follow up for 14 days.
-  Genome sequencing of positive samples through INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner.
-  Continued monitoring of areas where cluster of positive cases emerge.
-  Further strengthening of COVID-19 testing infrastructure and ensuring early identification of cases through adequate testing across the States.
-  Ensure  preparedness  of  health  infrastructure  (availability  of  ICU,  Oxygen  supported  beds, ventilators, etc.) and upgrade health infrastructure under ECRP-II including in rural areas and for pediatric cases.
-  Commissioning all PSA plants, ensuring sufficient logistics, drugs etc.
-  Ensure rapid COVID-19 vaccine coverage.
-  Ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

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