According to health experts, the Omicron strain is not as deadly as the Delta virus which caused several deaths during the second wave. Infection by the Omicron virus also does not require hospitalisation in a majority of the cases and home quarantine is sufficient. However it must be said that Goa has witnessed a disturbing number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus in the past few days. It is obvious that the deaths were due to the infection by the Delta strain which is more prominent in the state. A medical expert has gone on to say that the state will see 15 to 20,000 coronavirus cases per day during the peak. This has caused a lot of panic among the citizens. It is pertinent to note that during the second wave there have been press briefings by the ministers and the medical authorities daily. If such briefings by the ministers are against the Model Code of Conduct which is in force, at least the health officials need to throw some light as far as the virus is concerned which is spreading at an alarming rate.
