as the new omicron variant spreads like wildfire health officials remain on high alert as per who estimates at least 95 nations including britain the united states of america denmark and norway have been affected by the new variant in india 236 cases of omicron have been reported in india so far amid such chaos the centre on tuesday said that the new covid variant omicron is three times more transmissible that the delta variantbased on current scientific evidence the variant of concern omicron is at least 3 times more transmissible than the delta variant besides the delta voc is still present in different parts of the country hence even greater foresight data analysis dynamic decision making and strict prompt containment action is required at the local and district level the ministry said in a letter to the states and utsread also coronavirus is there a possibility of a third wave hitting india we weigh inthe centre has asked states to review the emerging data of covid19 affected population geographical spread hospital infrastructure and its utilisation manpower notifying containment zones and enforcement of perimeter of containment zones at the district levels it has called for formulating a strategy that can ensure infection is contained at the local level itself before it spreads to other parts of the statethe states have been advised that the main elements of the framework to be used should be based on the test positivity rate of 10 per cent or more in the last one week and on bed occupancy of 40 per cent or more on oxygen supported or icu beds the states have been asked to focus on containment test track surveillance clinical management vaccination and covid appropriate behaviour as strategic areas of interventionunion health secretary rajesh bhushan in the letter has asked states and uts to activate the war rooms and keep analysing all trends and surges no matter how small and keep taking proactive measures at the district or local levelwith inputs from ians