Omicron Threat: Kerala Reports First Case of New Variant, India’s Tally Touches 38 | Key Points

Kerala on Sunday reported its first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant. The new variant was detected in a man who flew in to Kochi from the United Kingdom, state Health Minister Veena George said.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Victor Dasgupta

Updated: December 12, 2021, 7:54 PM IST

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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala on Sunday reported its first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant. The new variant was detected in a man who flew in to Kochi from the United Kingdom, state Health Minister Veena George said. “High-risk passengers who were seated next to him have been informed. There is no need to panic, his condition is stable. His wife and mother tested positive for Covid. All of them shifted to isolation ward. Necessary precautions being taken,” Veena George added.

Nagpur also reported its first case of Omicron variant in the district today. Informing about the latest development, Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B said a 40-year-old man has been found positive in Nagpur. With this, India’s tally of Omicron variant cases on Sunday rose to 37. Earlier today, three fresh infections were detected — one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh and Karnataka.

Andhra Pradesh reported its first case of the new strain in a 34-year-old traveller from Ireland. In Chandigarh, a 20-year-old Italy returnee has tested positive for the highly transmissible’ variant of COVID-19. Karnataka reported its third case of Omicron after a 34-year-old returnee from South Africa tested positive.

Here are some of the key details:

Andhra Pradesh Patient’s Travel History

• The passenger had first landed at Mumbai airport. He was tested there and his report was negative.
• On November 27, he arrived in Visakhapatnam.
• He underwent another RT-PCR test in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh which apparently came positive.
• His sample was then sent to the Council Of Scientific And Industrial ResearchCentre For Cellular And Molecular Biology (CSIRCCMB) in Hyderabad for genome sequencing, where it came positive for Omicron.

Chandigarh Patient’s Travel History

• The patient from Italy landed in India on Nov 22.
• He was diagnosed with COVID on Dec 1, has tested positive for the Omicron variant.
• He is completely asymptomatic.
• He is currently in institutional quarantine.
• He is fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine.

Karnataka Patient’s Travel History

•  A 34-year-old returnee from South Africa has tested positive.
• He is isolated & being treated in a govt hospital.

Omicron in India | Key Points

• India’s tally of coronavirus increased to 36 after the detection of fresh Omicron cases.
• On Saturday, a 35-year-old man with travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa had tested positive for Omicron, becoming the second patient of the new COVID-19 variant in Delhi. Last week, a 37-year-old fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania became the first patient of Omicron in the national capital.
• With total 17 patients, Maharashtra has the highest Omicron cases in the country, while the second is Rajasthan with nine cases. Gujarat and Karnataka have so far three confirmed cases of new strain. Delhi has two Omicron cases, while Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh have one each.
• A Bangladesh returnee has tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal, following which his sample was sent for genome sequencing to ascertain whether he contracted the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
• At least 1,349 people have travelled from foreign countries to Maharashtra’s Raigad in the last eight days, and the district health department is keeping a watch on them in light of the emergence of Omicron.