Karnataka reports India’s first two Omicron-infected Covid-19 patients. One is a 66-year-old man who travelled from South Africa and the other is a 46-year-old doctor in Bengaluru. 

The Karnataka Health Minister said the Bengaluru doctor reported tiredness, body ache and mild fever and got himself tested voluntarily. Omicron variant was confirmed after the genome sequencing was done. He requested everyone to follow all COVID norms strictly.

The BBMP commissioner Gaurav Gupta stated that among the 218 traced contacts of the Bangaluru doctor, 3 primary and 2 secondary contacts have tested positive for COVID. The doctor had recently attended a conference in the city along with many doctors from India and abroad. So everyone should be vigilant, careful and not panic and get fully vaccinated. 

He also said that the other Omicron positive is a 66-year-old male from South Africa, who had tested positive at the Bengaluru International Airport on November 20 and confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant on December 2 after genome sequencing. He was kept in isolation in a hotel and all his 24 primary contacts and 240 secondary contacts tested negative. 

Dr Gagandeep Kang from Christian Medical College, Vellore showed concern and said that the new variant might have already spread in the community and expressed the apprehension that the genome sequencing labs in India may not have identified it yet.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, also showed concern and said that Omicron variant has a large number of mutations and its transmissibility, severity and immune escape capabilities were yet to be understood completely. The Indian government and all the citizens should strictly follow the precautionary measures even after getting vaccinated. All travelers must adhere to public health and social measures at all times and remain vigilant for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. 

Source: The New Indian Express