Omicron less severe, no need to panic, says AIIMS chief

As Covid-19 cases soaring high in the country, Dr Randeep Guleria, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) chief stated that there was no need for people without comorbidities to panic and advised them not to block hospital beds.

Dr Randeep Guleria, the AIIMS chief, said that the Omicron variant mainly affects the upper respiratory tract and airways, rather than the lungs even as 27,553 cases were reported on Sunday morning, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Guleria urged patients to isolate at home, citing low recovery time for the new variant.

“Omicron is affecting the upper respiratory tract and more of the airways, rather than the lungs. That is why we see very fewer patients with a drop in oxygen saturation or the other severe symptoms we saw in Delta. What we are seeing here is more of fever, running nose, sore throat, and a lot of body ache and headache. If any of these symptoms persist, they should come forward and get themselves tested. Because then they can isolate themselves and prevent the infection from spreading to other people in the community,” he was quoted by the publication.