1 minute read
OSBI
from 2022-01 Sydney
by Indian Link
Australia
BY PAWAN LUTHRA
or the1 millionIndians in Australia, the worry levelsare high aboutthepotentialspread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus in India. Most of us wereleft affected directly or indirectly when the Delta variant bushfire raged acrossthenationless than9months ago, even as the health systemfought tooth andnail to contain it.
India isall about numbers; with a population of over 1.3 billion, these numbers can eitherbe a source of attraction or aliability to manage. Investmentconsultants spruik the great opportunities which lie inbusiness with these 1.3 billionconsumers; otherslook at the social, environmental, educational andhealth responsibilities which come with this population size.
India has reported35,000,000 infectionsand 483,000 deaths caused by COVID-19'sDelta variant. Theseofficial figures have been disputed - claims are thattheyon thelower side,due to incompletecertification of COVID deaths, misattributiontochronicdisease andlow levels of paperwork in rural India. Nonetheless, theyconstituteabout 10% of theglobal deaths due toCOVID.
To bebetter equipped to fight the virus,oneneeds atleastthree dosesof vaccinesatthisstage, the initialtwo vaccinations andthenthe boostershots. Todateonly 45 % of the population isfullyvaccinatedandit is only nowthat the boostershots have begun to be rolled outforthose over60 or with comorbidities andforfrontline workers.
It isa well-known fact thatthe initial vaccination shots havelow efficacy after about4-5months. Of those currently vaccinated, alarge number of people in India willbe walking around unprotectedagainstthe Omicron variant, due merely to the gap between their initial vaccination and their hooter shot.
Lastyear, thespreadof Delta partially accelerateddue toelections infivestates of India, including BengalandTamil
Naidu. Throngingrallieswere blamed for the fastspread. Andnow in2021, 180 million people are setgo tothe polls inthestatesof Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur on10 Feb. Though election rallies have beenbanned,one can expect to seehuge gatheringsof people,leading tofears of a repeatof2021. Thatthe Omicron isreportedtobe particularly severe on those who have notbeen vaccinated or have low efficacyis therefore of concern.
All thisas the governmentreported 160,000newcasesona singleday (Sun9 Jan), with thetwo largestcities Delhiand Mumbairecording more than 20,000 newcases each. In spite of schools in many states remainingclosed, healthofficials are understandably concerned.
For Indian-Australians heading home toIndia in coming days, it is i1nportant thattheyare notonly double vaccinated but have had their booster also.And yes, social distancing in Indiamightprove to be achallenge,but sticking to the triple mantra of masking, social distancingand hygienemayjustmakethetripsafer.
