20pc Covid patients got Omicron

As much as 20 percent of the Covid-19 patients examined by BSMMU researchers in the month to January 8 were infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, indicating that the highly transmissible variant is fast putting down its roots in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh reported its first confirmed cases of Omicron on December 9 last year, and as of Sunday, the tally stands at 55.

None of those Omicron-infected patients, however, were admitted to the hospitals as they had mild symptoms, said the researchers of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

"All the samples collected from the patients admitted in the hospital were Delta variant," said Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of the BSMMU, while sharing the findings of the study at an event yesterday.

Between December 8 last year and January 8 this year, 96 samples were collected.

A total of 769 samples from patients aged between nine months and 90 years from all divisions were collected between June 29 last year and January 8 this year for the study, which found death risk was higher among those aged 60 years and above if they had tested positive for the second time.

About 98 percent had the deadly Delta variant, while 1 percent each had the Beta variant and the Nigerian variant.

However, earlier on Monday, the Directorate General of Health Services officials said the Omicron variant is replacing the Delta variant faster and has been causing the skyrocketing in the daily caseload, which was a "bad sign".

In the 24 hours to 8 am yesterday, 8,407 cases were recorded -- the highest since August 13 last year.

The positivity rate was almost 24 percent against 35,054 tests -- up from 20.88 percent the previous day.