Omicron Variant Scare: Two Of 94 Travellers From South Africa Test Positive At Bengaluru Airport

Bengaluru Rural Deputy Commissioner K Srinivas that as many as 584 people, so far, have arrived here from 10 "high-risk" nations, and as many as 94 individuals have come from South Africa alone so far

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New Delhi: Two South African nationals have tested Covid-19 positive at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, creating panic among the health authorities over the new Omicron variant of the lethal virus.

Bengaluru Rural Deputy Commissioner K Srinivas on Saturday said that as many as 584 people, so far, have arrived here from 10 "high-risk" nations, and as many as 94 individuals have come from South Africa alone so far.

Speaking about the Covid patients from South Africa, he said further test reports would ascertain whether they are infected with the Omicron variant. The test results will take another 48 hours to arrive, the Health Department said.

Both have been sent to quarantine centres, and they will stay there till their test results confirm the new variant.

He also visited the Bengaluru airport to inspect the security and precautionary measures being undertaken by the authorities regarding examining the international passengers who arrive from high-risk countries where the Omicron variant has been detected.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government issuing strict guidelines to the international travellers coming from the Omicron affected countries, said that they need to be tested on arrival. The state government also made quarantine mandatory for international travellers from those countries.  

(With inputs from IANS)