India's Omicron Tally Reaches 38 As Andhra, Chandigarh & Kerala Report Fresh Infections

With the new cases in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Chandigarh, the country’s total count of Omicron infections has risen to 36.

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New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh on Sunday reported its first case of COVID-19's Omicron variant. Chandigarh also detected a 20-year-old man from Italy as having tested positive for Omicron. Furthermore, a third case of the COVID mutation has been reported in Karnataka, taking the countrywide tally to 38.

As per a press statement shared by news agency ANI, the state government informed that "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 27.11.2021. On conducting retest at Vizianagaram, RTPCR test was found positive for COVID-19. His sample was sent to CCMB, Hyderabad for Genome Sequencing and result declared as Omicron Positive. He does not have any symptoms and was re-tested on 11.12.2021 and RT-PCR result found to be negative for COVID-19. There are no other Omicron cases in the state".

"This is the first case of OMICRON identified in Andhra Pradesh. So far a total of 15 Foreign Travellers were found COVID-19 RTPCR Positive and all the 15 Samples were sent to CCMB for Genome sequencing. Whole genome sequencing Reports are received in 10 cases and of them, one is identified as OMICRON. Public is advised not to worry and believe in any rumours but continue to take precautions and follow social distancing, wearing of mask, washing hands regularly," the director of public health added.

Chandigarh Health department also revealed that a 20-year-old man from Italy has tested positive for the Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

This is the first case of Omicron to be reported in the union territory which is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

"A 20-year-old man from Italy, who landed in India on November 22 and was diagnosed with COVID on December 1, has tested positive for Omicron variant. He is fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. He has been tested for COVID-19 again today and the report is awaited": Chandigarh Health department said. 

Soon after, Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K informed that the third case of Omicron was detected in the state. "A 34-year-old returnee from South Africa has tested positive. He is isolated and being treated in a government hospital. 5 primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced and their samples were sent for testing," he said, as reported by ANI.

Kerala too reported first case of Omicron variant after a UK returnee turned positive for the new variant. 

"First case of Omicron reported in Kochi, Kerala. The concerned person had returned from UK to Kochi on December 6. He had tested Covid positive on December 8," Kerala Health Minister Veena George said.

This comes after Delhi reported its second case of Omicron on Saturday after a fully vaccinated individual with a travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa tested positive for the coronavirus deemed to be more dangerous and transmissible than the previous strains.

A 35-year-old man, with a travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa, tested positive for Omicron, becoming the second patient in Delhi of the new COVID-19 variant, news agency PTI reported sources as saying on Saturday.

He is admitted at the LNJP Hospital and only has weakness, they informed.

Omicron Cases In India

With the new cases in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chandigarh and Kerala, the country’s total count of Omicron infections has risen to 38.

So far, 17 omicron infections were detected in Maharashtra, followed by nine cases in Rajasthan, three in Gujarat, three in Karnataka, two in Delhi, and now one each in Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Section 144 CrPC was imposed in Mumbai for Saturday and Sunday in wake of the Omicron threat. Rallies, morchas, processions, etc of either persons or vehicles have been prohibited.

On Friday, the Centre had informed that detected cases have so far shown mild symptoms.

"Omicron cases detected comprise less than 0.04 per cent of total variants detected. All detected cases have mild symptoms," Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, union health ministry, said.

The government also warned about the decline in usage of face masks across the country amid the emergence of the Omicron.

Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (health), said people are operating at a "risky and unacceptable" level, stressing that both masks and vaccines are important for protection against Coronavirus disease.

(With Inputs From Agencies)