Thiruvananthapuram, June 17 (BPNS)
For the fourth consecutive day, the state reported more than 3000 fresh cases of Covid-19. On Friday, 3253 cases were reported, with the most coming from Ernakulam (841), Thiruvananthapuram (641), Kottayam (409), and Kozhikode (234).
As per WHO’s India situation report, released on June 15, for the last two months in India, Omicron has been the dominant variant with 98.4 percent, and BA.2 is the major sub-lineage with 74.5 percent. Other Omicron sub-lineages reported include BA.2.10 (3.5 percent), BA.2.12.1 (2.4%), BA.3 (2.2 percent), B.1.1.529 (2.1%), and others (12.6 percent). Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 have recently been recorded from a few Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi & Gujarat) accounting for 0.4% & 0.5% respectively.
The other day, health minister Veena George stated that it’s the sub-lineages of Omicron that have resulted in the sudden surge of cases. According to her, though it’s not that fatal it has the capability of spreading rapidly among the population.
According to infectious disease expert Dr Ishwar Gilada, the current surge seems to be due to waning immunity – both natural immunity due to past infection or due to vaccines. “It can be an immune escape as newer variants and sub-variants are known for immune escape.”
