Covid in India: Tamil Nadu health official says no need for any panic

A top health official in the state of Tamil Nadu weighed in on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation on Wednesday (May 22), saying that the new wave in Singapore is a "milder infection" and there was no need for panic. He added that the state has the required infrastructure to face any situation. 

"There have been no significant (hospital) admissions" in Singapore following the outbreak, Dr TS Selvavinayagam, Director, of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) said. 

"In the last few weeks, it has been reported that there are Covid cases in South Asian countries like Singapore. As far as we (TN) are concerned, there is no need for any apprehension. The Singapore variant, KP.2 is a sub-variant of Omicron and has been reported in some parts of India," he added. 

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The official data revealed that as many as 290 cases of KP.2 and 34 cases of KP.1, both sub-lineages of Covid that are responsible for a surge in cases in Singapore, have been found in India. 

A report by the news agency PTI revealed that both KP.2 and KP.1 are sub-variants of JN1 and there is no associated increase in hospitalisation and severe cases. 

The variant has been "giving only milder infection, no severe infection has been reported so far," Selvavinayagam said in a video released by the DPHPM. 

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"Not just that, we have almost totally vaccinated the 18-plus population in Tamil Nadu. So even if there is an infection, it will be a milder form and would not require admission," he added. 

He said that any required precaution would include wearing masks in public places and the need for the elderly, those with co-morbidities and pregnant women to be "extra careful", but otherwise, there's no need for any panic. 

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State-wise cases  

Cases of KP.1 variant registered in West Bengal (23), Goa (1), Gujarat (2), Haryana (1), Maharashtra (4) Rajasthan (2) and Uttarakhand (1). 

Meanwhile, cases of KP.2 have been registered in Maharashtra (148), Delhi (1), Goa (12), Gujarat (23), Haryana (3), Karnataka (4), Madhya Pradesh (1), Odisha (17), Rajasthan (21), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (16) and West Bengal (36).  

Covid in Singapore 

The Singapore's health ministry has implemented a mask mandate again amid a sudden surge in cases. The health authorities have recorded more than 25,900 cases of Covid from May 5 to 11. 

Last week, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the nation is at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising. 

"So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June," the Straits Times newspaper quoted the minister as saying. 

(With inputs from agencies)