Lok Sabha Question No. 685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Omicron Variant
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Ram Kripal Yadav, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Shrirang Appa Barne, A. Ganeshamurthi, Sudheer Gupta, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Ravindra Kushawaha, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Prataprao  Jadhav, Pradeep Kumar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 685 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## 'OMICRON VARIANT'

## 685. SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- a) The total  number of persons infected by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 along with the number  of  deaths  reported  and  the  number  of  patients  recovered  so  far  in  the  country, State/UT-wise
- b) Whether  as  per  studies  conducted,  the  Omicron  variant  is  more  contagious,  if  so,  the comparative  details  thereof  and  the  effectiveness  of  indigenous  vaccine  against  the  new variant;
- c) Whether the Government has revised its policy considering the less deadly nature of the new variant,  issued  advisory  to  State/UTs  to  manage  the  pandemic  and  opened  new  labs  for genome sequencing of new variant and if so, the details thereof; and
- d) The other measures taken/being taken to prevent the spread of this new variant and minimize the  fatality  rate  including  releasing  of  funds  to  States/UTs  and  assistance  of  medical equipment's and other strict measures like imposing of lockdown in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- a) to d) Omicron variant is the dominant variant in the country presently. The total number of COVID-19  cases  and  deaths  reported  the  country  during  the  months  of  December  2021  and January 2022 is as given at Annexure.

According  to  World  Health  Organization,  Omicron  variant  has  a  significantly  increased transmissibility as compared to the Delta variant, and as a result, it is rapidly replacing the latter globally. As per the available evidence, vaccines help in terms of lesser people getting infected, lesser hospitalization and lesser severity of disease amongst the patients.

Government  of  India  is  supporting  States  in  their  endeavor  to  manage  COVID-19  since  the beginning  of  pandemic.  Given  the  emergence  of  mutated  variants  with  variable  impact  on transmissibility, virulence and effectiveness of vaccines, likelihood of resurgence of COVID-19 trajectory  in  the  country  is  monitored  by  various  expert  committees  under  Indian  Council  of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services and other relevant Ministries/Departments. Union Ministry of Health & FW continues to keep a close watch over COVID-19 situation across the country and globally.

With  the  reporting  of  Omicron  Variant  and  its  classification  as  a  Variant  of  Concern  by  the World  Health  Organization,  the  Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  revised  its  Guidelines  for international arrivals. Following a risk based approach; provisions for mandatory pre-departure & post arrival RT-PCR testing on day 8th of arrival and a mandatory home quarantine for 7 days have been made in the present guidelines for all international travelers to India. Union Ministry of Health &  FW  is  accordingly coordinating and collaborating with other stakeholder Ministries/departments  including  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and Waterways, Ministry of Railways and all States/UTs etc.

Besides  regular  review  meetings  at  the  level  of  Union  Health  Minister  with  all  relevant stakeholders including subject experts, review meetings with States/UTs through video conferencing have been conducted under Union Health Minister and senior officials of Health Ministry  to  review  preparedness  and  response  measures  for  COVID-19  pandemic.  States/UTs have been repeatedly 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 emerges.
-  Further strengthening of COVID-19 testing infrastructure and ensuring early identification of cases through adequate testing across the States.
-  Ensuring preparedness of health infrastructure (availability of ICU, oxygen supported beds, ventilators, etc.) and upgrading health infrastructure under ECRP-II including in rural areas and for pediatric cases.
-  Commissioning all PSA plants, ensuring sufficient logistics, drugs etc.
-  Ensuring COVID-19 vaccination for the eligible population including coverage among young adolescents (15-18 years) and precaution dose for health care workers, frontline workers and elderly with comorbidities.
-  Ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  vide  letter  dated  28th  June  2021  has  circulated  to  all  States/UTs guiding principles for imposition of restrictions or allowing relaxation in context of COVID-19 based on COVID-19 testing confirmation rates and hospital bed occupancy rates. This has been reiterated by Ministry of Home Affairs under Disaster Management Act, 2005 vide order dated 29th June 2021.

The  Indian  SARS-CoV-2  Genomics  Consortium  (INSACOG)  is  a  national  multi-agency consortium  of  Genome  Sequencing  Laboratories  (RGSLs)  of  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare, Dept. of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Council of Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR),  established  by  the  Government  of  India  for  whole genome sequencing in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. 52 labs are presently functional.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  continues  to  provide  technical  guidance  for  managing various  aspects  of  COVID-19.  To  disseminate  various  clinical  guidelines  for  appropriate management  of  cases,  a  series  of  webinars  were  held  under  MoHFW's  Center  of  Excellence initiative for all State Level Centers of Excellence and district level public and private COVID health facilities in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi and Indian Medical Association.

Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  continues  to  provide  support  to  States/UTs  to  enhance preparedness  and  response  capacities  against  COVID-19  and  other  public  health  emergencies. Funding support is also provided to States/UTs through National Health Mission, State Disaster Response  Funds  (SDRF)  and  Emergency  COVID-19  Response  and  Preparedness  packages. Under  ECRP  Phase  II,  a  package  of  Rs.  23,123  crores  (with  Rs.  15,000  Cr  as  Central Component)  has  been  approved  to  upgrade  health  infrastructure  including  maintaining  buffer stock of essential drugs. Of this, as on 31st January 2022, funds to the tune of Rs. 7245.95 crore have been released to States/UTs as part of Central component to strengthen health infrastructure to manage any surge in cases.

Annexure Total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported by all States/UTs during the months of December 2021 and January 2022

| S. No   |                                    | December 2021   | December 2021   | January 2022   | January 2022   |
|---------|------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|----------------|
| S. No   | States/UTs                         | Cases           | Deaths          | Cases          | Deaths         |
| 1.      | Andaman and Nicobar Islands        | 37              | 0               | 2,057          | 0              |
| 2.      | Andhra Pradesh                     | 4,254           | 54              | 1,93,512       | 113            |
| 3.      | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 66              | 0               | 6,743          | 6              |
| 4.      | Assam                              | 3,865           | 66              | 94,022         | 278            |
| 5.      | Bihar                              | 519             | 2,433*          | 96,315         | 125            |
| 6.      | Chandigarh                         | 390             | 259*            | 23,298         | 39             |
| 7.      | Chhattisgarh                       | 1,218           | 7               | 1,15,173       | 234            |
| 8.      | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu | 8               | 0               | 610            | 0              |
| 9.      | Delhi                              | 5,515           | 9               | 3,81,074       | 720            |
| 10.     | Goa                                | 1,770           | 137*            | 57,746         | 161            |
| 11.     | Gujarat                            | 3,643           | 26              | 3,22,902       | 320            |
| 12.     | Haryana                            | 1,669           | 9               | 1,72,608       | 223            |
| 13.     | Himachal Pradesh                   | 1,677           | 28              | 41,308         | 120            |
| 14.     | Jammu and Kashmir                  | 4,486           | 50              | 91,708         | 133            |
| 15.     | Jharkhand                          | 1,754           | 3               | 76,926         | 157            |
| 16.     | Karnataka                          | 10,648          | 124             | 7,78,790       | 615            |
| 17.     | Kerala                             | 1,07,410        | 7,486*          | 7,39,014       | 6,225*         |
| 18.     | Ladakh                             | 633             | 5               | 3,723          | 5              |
| 19.     | Lakshadweep                        | 22              | 0               | 640            | 1              |
| 20.     | Madhya Pradesh                     | 738             | 5               | 1,65,551       | 83             |
| 21.     | Maharashtra                        | 35,774          | 556             | 10,35,215      | 1,054          |
| 22.     | Manipur                            | 609             | 27              | 7,132          | 39             |
| 23.     | Meghalaya                          | 356             | 12              | 6,067          | 38             |
| 24.     | Mizoram                            | 6,590           | 49              | 31,091         | 64             |
| 25.     | Nagaland                           | 82              | 6               | 2,150          | 33             |
| 26.     | Odisha                             | 5,726           | 49              | 1,91,305       | 136            |
| 27.     | Puducherry                         | 568             | 9               | 31,286         | 47             |
| 28.     | Punjab                             | 1,336           | 45              | 1,36,591       | 570            |
| 29.     | Rajasthan                          | 1,249           | 8               | 2,44,033       | 282            |
| 30.     | Sikkim                             | 269             | 6               | 5,597          | 20             |
| 31.     | Tamil Nadu                         | 20,693          | 293             | 5,79,050       | 779            |
| 32.     | Telangana                          | 5,789           | 35              | 79,463         | 61             |
| 33.     | Tripura                            | 278             | 6               | 15,152         | 70             |
| 34.     | Uttar Pradesh                      | 972             | 5               | 301,964        | 274            |
| 35.     | Uttarakhand                        | 713             | 9               | 75,248         | 119            |
| 36.     | West Bengal                        | 19,656          | 284             | 3,58,572       | 826            |

*Includes COVID-19 deaths reconciled by the State/UT