Experts say the new sub-variant of the coronavirus is highly infectious, but not deadly. As Covid vaccine makers decide to supply only based on demand, doctors advise caution, and ask people to mask up and take precautions
A healthcare worker collects a swab sample of a woman for Covid-19 test, amid a rise in coronavirus cases in India, in New Delhi on April 17, 2023. Image: Arrush Chopra/NurPhoto via Getty Images
This time two years ago, India was descending into its deadliest Covid-19 crisis. It was at the doorstep of a second coronavirus wave that would lead to people scrambling for oxygen and hospital beds, and high death tolls. Two years later, in 2023, there is another coronavirus surge, this time led largely by the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 or ‘Arcturus’. The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the spread of this sub-variant, which experts Forbes India spoke with say is infectious, but so far does not seem to be deadly. They advise people to be cautious, and say that test positivity rates, hospitalisations and severity of symptoms need to be closely monitored.
The hospitalisations due to Covid have not increased so far, says Dr Vaishali Solao, head and senior consultant-critical care, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai. “The proportion of patients with severe illness, requiring oxygen therapy and ICU remains very low as of now as compared to previous waves.”
She says the XBB.1.16 sub-variant is more infectious than seen so far. That said, according to her, natural infections—at times more than once over the past three years—plus vaccinations have contributed to better immunity in most people. At the same time, she believes the reasons for the spike in Covid cases right now could be due to the new sub-variant escaping immunity, the low booster dose acceptance among the population, and also people letting their guard down in terms of taking precautions like masking.
India recorded 7,633 cases over the last 24 hours on April 18, according to the ministry of health and family welfare data. The active caseload was 61,233, with active cases at 0.14 percent and recovery rate at 98.68 percent.