Omicron: With mask usage dropping India enters danger zone

New Delhi, Dec 11: The government has warned that India has entered the danger zone with mask usage in the country dropping to levels the pre-second wave. 25 cases of Omicron have been detected so far in the country. Nine cases have been symptomatic and 14 asymptomatic. Nine of these persons did not have any travel history, the government said.

14 persons detected with Omicron in India were fully vaccinated, data shows. "I would like to draw your attention to a reality check, on an assessment of the mask usage presently going on in our country.

This comes from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation which does these estimates for several countries. Just before the second surge, mask usage was at a low level. When the cases started to rise dramatically in May, we all responded, and everyone started to wear masks out of fear," Dr. V K Paul head of India's COVID-19 task force said according to an Indian Express report.

"In August, we saw a decline. And in December, we have again gone back to the same position. According to this estimate, it has in fact declined even further compared to the March levels. In a way, we have entered the danger zone. Technically speaking, from a protection capability point of view, we are now operating at a low level. This is an unacceptable level. It is a risky level," Dr. Paul also said.

"Before the second surge, we were at the same level of mask usage. Suddenly, the situation changed. It was collective complacency. It cost us a lot. We are again warning that time has still not come to discard mask usage. Both vaccines and masks are a must," he also added.