Hyderabad: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made key changes in the manual of high and low risk groups for Covid- 19 recently. Unlike during the spread of earlier variants, people above 65 years and those with comorbidities between 18-45 years do not come under high risk groups.
However, people with immune suppression, who underwent organ transplants, those undergoing dialysis and people with auto immune disorders remain in high risk category.
Dr Kiran Madala, IMA Telangana scientific committee convenor, said there were only high and low risk groups before. “WHO has added another group of middle risk category. Those above 65 years and people with comorbidities in 18-45 years are now bracketed under middle risk group. Similarly, those below 18 years with comorbidities are no longer in any risk group. They were in low risk group earlier,” he said.
Speaking about the caution to be exercised by people in the high risk group, Dr G Srikanth, consultant nephrologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Banjara Hills, said the risk group categories have now changed and people with suppressed immunity and those undergoing treatment for kidney problems and dialysis should not try to mingle among big crowds.
“Since there is no correct data on the vaccines now, it is always better to get back to Covid-19 protocols and wearing a mask is always safe. Most importantly, if they are infected, they are the ones who will be under direct doctor care than getting treatment in isolation,” he said.
Even if infection is severe, there are good medicines available now, he said. Allaying the fears over spread of the new variant, he said: “There no need to panic.”
Interestingly, the genome sequencing test results platform INSACOG (which was set up by the ministry of health as a consortium of many labs as dashboard to monitor the genome sequencing of Covid-19) updated two cases of JN.1 of Covid-19 in the month of November itself though the Centre announced detection of two cases on Monday.
In Telangana, 36 more samples are waiting for results from genome sequencing.
According to the dashboard, the first JN.1 case was shown in Tamil Nadu on November 13, Goa recorded its first JN.1 case on November 16, Kerala (on November 18) and two cases of this variant were reported in Telangana on November 21.
Meanwhile, at review meeting held here on Tuesday with officials, health minister Damodara Raja Narsimha asked them to encourage natural deliveries in the government hospitals and improve the functioning of Basthi and Palle Dawakhanas. The minister also asked the officials to enhance the capacity of Telangana Diagnostics.
However, people with immune suppression, who underwent organ transplants, those undergoing dialysis and people with auto immune disorders remain in high risk category.
Dr Kiran Madala, IMA Telangana scientific committee convenor, said there were only high and low risk groups before. “WHO has added another group of middle risk category. Those above 65 years and people with comorbidities in 18-45 years are now bracketed under middle risk group. Similarly, those below 18 years with comorbidities are no longer in any risk group. They were in low risk group earlier,” he said.
Speaking about the caution to be exercised by people in the high risk group, Dr G Srikanth, consultant nephrologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Banjara Hills, said the risk group categories have now changed and people with suppressed immunity and those undergoing treatment for kidney problems and dialysis should not try to mingle among big crowds.
“Since there is no correct data on the vaccines now, it is always better to get back to Covid-19 protocols and wearing a mask is always safe. Most importantly, if they are infected, they are the ones who will be under direct doctor care than getting treatment in isolation,” he said.
Even if infection is severe, there are good medicines available now, he said. Allaying the fears over spread of the new variant, he said: “There no need to panic.”
Interestingly, the genome sequencing test results platform INSACOG (which was set up by the ministry of health as a consortium of many labs as dashboard to monitor the genome sequencing of Covid-19) updated two cases of JN.1 of Covid-19 in the month of November itself though the Centre announced detection of two cases on Monday.
In Telangana, 36 more samples are waiting for results from genome sequencing.
According to the dashboard, the first JN.1 case was shown in Tamil Nadu on November 13, Goa recorded its first JN.1 case on November 16, Kerala (on November 18) and two cases of this variant were reported in Telangana on November 21.
Meanwhile, at review meeting held here on Tuesday with officials, health minister Damodara Raja Narsimha asked them to encourage natural deliveries in the government hospitals and improve the functioning of Basthi and Palle Dawakhanas. The minister also asked the officials to enhance the capacity of Telangana Diagnostics.