A comparative study of second (delta) wave and third (omicron) wave of Covid -19 based on positivity rates at a sub-district hospital in Goa

Abstract

The covid-19 outbreak was due to a virus which emerged in china at the end of December 2019, and was widespread in more than 200 countries worldwide. In India, the virus was introduced first by travelers returning home from various countries followed by local transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) caused rapid increase of infections worldwide. A retrospective study was carried out in a sub district hospital of south Goa during second covid wave of delta variant and third covid wave of omicron variant. Throat and nasopharngeal swabs were collected in flu OPD and sent to covid lab for RTPCR by truenat and rapid antigen tests. The positivity rates were calculated and data was used to find out various differences observed in both the waves. The peak positivity rate was 61% in mid april during delta wave and 66% in mid January during omicron wave. Signs and symptoms of fever, shortness of breadth/difficult in breathing, sore throat, cough and fatigue were seen along with minor symptoms such as malaise, headache, loss of sense of smell and taste, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea. Males were more affected than females. Rate of infection were less in immunised individuals. Adults and youth were affected more in number as compared to elderly and children. In both the waves, travellers going outside state showed low positivity.The arm of the sea variant confirmed to pose a important health burden to the society on account of allure pulmonary belongings and reduced immunization coverage all along the epidemic. Due to the communicable character of two together waves, Covid experiment far surpassed the capacity of workshops to process sample books, procrastinating newsgathering and situation. The study climaxes the burden of the pandemic on states and thus the significance of voters following COVID-19 contracts for fear that this transmission.