The number of Omicron cases are rising in the country with new confirmed cases from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh being reported. In Maharashtra, Nagpur registered its first Omicron case with a 40-year-old man who has tested positive for this latest variant of SARS-CoV-2 today. In Karnataka, a 34-year-old man, who has returned from South Africa tested positive with this variant, it is the third case from the state. India had reported 37 cases of Omicron as per the latest data released by the health ministry.
Nagpur district in Maharashtra reported its first case of Omicron, said Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B. on Sunday. The 40-year-old patient, who tested positive for Omicron, has a history of travelling to West Africa. “After returning to Nagpur, the man underwent genome sequencing along with the Covid-19 test. Only then did it become clear that he had an Omicron infection. He is stable and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Other members of the patient’s family have been reported negative. Other people who came in contact with the patient concerned are being traced and all of them will be tested by the administration. Samples were taken from the person concerned at Nagpur airport on 4 December,” said Radhakrishnan B.
Andhra Pradesh on Sunday reported its first case of Omicron variant of Covid-19. “A 34-year-old foreign traveller came from Ireland to Mumbai Airport, tested and found negative for Covid-19 RT-PCR test. He was allowed to travel and came to Visakhapatnam on November 27, 2021. On conducting a re-test at Vizianagaram, the RT-PCR test was found positive for Covid-19. His sample was sent to CCMB, Hyderabad for genome sequencing and the result was declared as Omicron positive,” said the Andhra Pradesh Health Department today. However, he was tested negative for the virus on 11 December.
A 20-year-old Italy returnee, who was infected with Omicron, has tested negative for Covid-19 on Sunday, said the Chandigarh Health Department. “A 20-year-old male resident of Italy who was reported positive for Omicron variant has now tested as Covid negative today. His seven family contacts who had been quarantined and were negative earlier were retested today for Covid 19. Out of these five have tested as positive and one as negative. The report of one family member is awaited,” it said.
Kerala reported the first case of Omicron variant in Kochi, said state Health Minister Veena George. The man who returned from the UK to Kochi on 6 December had tested Covid positive on 8 December and after genome sequencing, he was found positive for Omicron. “First case of Omicron reported in Kochi, Kerala. The concerned person had returned from the UK to Kochi on 6 December. He had tested Covid positive on 8 December,” said Veena George.
Karnataka detected its third case of Omicron on Sunday. State Health Minister K. Sudhakar confirmed the information. “Third case of Omicron has been detected in Karnataka. A 34-year-old returnee from South Africa has tested positive. He is isolated and being treated in a government hospital. Five primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced and their samples have been sent for testing,” said Karnataka Health Minister today.
States including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Kerala have reported cases of the new Covid-19 variant with the total number of Omicron cases in the country going up to 38.
Reports say that the Omicron variant, which appears to be spreading faster than Delta but causing mild illness, has now spread to around 58 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS.