January 12, 2022
1 min read

V K Paul: Never underestimate Omicron as common cold

“Vaccination is a critical pillar of India’s Covid-19 response. Let’s Mask Up and get vaccinated, whoever is due. It’s fact that the vaccines are helpful to an extent,” he said…reports Asian Lite News

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is not a common cold and should not be underestimated, NITI Aayog’s Member, Health, Dr V.K. Paul said on Wednesday, noting it is the reseaon behind the collapse of health infrastructure in several countries.

“Omicron is not a common cold, it is society’s responsibility to slow it down with vaccination and masks,” he said.

If we are seeing less hospitalisation, it is because of mass vaccination, he added.

“Vaccination is a critical pillar of India’s Covid-19 response. Let’s Mask Up and get vaccinated, whoever is due. It’s fact that the vaccines are helpful to an extent,” he said.

Dr Paul also said that the government is concerned about ‘overuse and misuse’ of drugs in home isolation. “There should be a rational approach for medicine use. We are concerned about the overuse & misuse of drugs. Don’t overuse, it will have aftermath. Have warm water, do gargles in home care,” he underlined.

About the new ICMR guidelines on Covid testing, Indian Council of Medical Research Director General, Dr Balram Bhargava, said that all symptomatic individuals need to be tested including all high-risk case contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases. Asymptomatic cases are not required to get tested unless they are at high risk.

Meanwhile, Joint Secretary, Health, Lav Agarwal, said that a sharp rise in Covid infections has been noted with the case positivity climbing to 11.05 per cent on Wednesday from 1.1 per cent on December 30.

Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat have emerged as states of concern, he said.

ALSO READ-Over half of Europe may be infected with Omicron in 6 weeks

Previous Story

Modi launches 11 new medical colleges across Tamil Nadu

Next Story

Connecting the unconnected for future

Latest from -Top News

Visa Interview Pause Nearing End, Says US

India is the source country for the largest group of international students in the US and Bruce’s comments will be closely followed there….reports Asian Lite News The United States said the pause

White House: Israel OKs Gaza Truce

Hamas said Thursday that its leadership had received a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from Witkoff through the mediators and was studying it…reports Asian Lite News The White House said that Israel has

No Talks Till Terror Ends: India to Pakistan

The MEA’s strong response came at a time when Pakistan, pushed on the backfoot by India’s decisive Operation Sindoor, has suddenly started talking about its intent on having peace talks with India….reports

BNP ramps up poll demand

Chief Adviser Yunus had earlier promised elections in December 2025, but the timeline has since been pushed back first to February 2026 and then to June 2026, fuelling suspicion and dissatisfaction among

Saudi backs India’s strategic outreach

In a series of engagements, the Indian delegation met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State Adel Al-Jubeir and other senior officials. A high-profile Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay
Go toTop

Don't Miss

‘G20 presidency big opportunity for India’

PM Modi said India will have to focus on global

Navy participating in “sea phase” of Ex-Malabar 2021 with other QUAD nations

The exercise is a testimony to the synergy between the