Goa Reports First Omicron Case, 8-Year-Old Boy Found Infected

The boy had travelled from the UK on December 17. His test report from the National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed that he was infected with Omicron, PTI quoted Vishwajit Rane as saying.

Representational Image. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Goa reported the first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the state on Monday. An eight-year-old boy who arrived in Goa from the United Kingdom has been found infected with Omicron, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane tweeted.

The boy had travelled from the UK on December 17. His test report from the National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed that he was infected with Omicron, PTI quoted Vishwajit Rane as saying.

#OmicronVariant Update - Goa

8 yr old boy who had traveled from the UK on 17.12.2021 has tested positive for #OmicronVirus as confirmed by NIV Pune.

— VishwajitRane (@visrane) December 27, 2021

Rane stated that the state administration would follow the Central government's guidelines and take strict actions if needed.

With the New Year just days away, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has already warned tourist stakeholders to remain vigilant and ensure that Covid-19 does not spread during the festivities.

According to official data, Goa recorded 25 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the state's total infection count to 1,80,050, while the death toll remained unchanged at 3,519.

Himachal, Madhya Pradesh Report First Omicron Cases

On Sunday, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh reported the first cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Eight people tested positive in Madhya Pradesh after returning from abroad. In Himachal, one Omicron case was detected from nine samples sent for genome sequencing.

Of the eight cases in Madhya Pradesh, three had returned from the United States, two each from the United Kingdom and Tanzania, and one from Ghana. Six of the patients have now tested negative and have been released from the hospital. The other two are asymptomatic and are being treated.