Punjab reports first Omicron case

Punjab has reported its first Omicron case with a 36-year-old man, who returned from Spain earlier this month, testing positive for new variant of coronavirus.

man, who arrived in India on December 4, visited his relatives in Nawanshahr in Punjab, a health official said.

man tested negative for coronavirus upon his arrival. However, he tested positive on December 12, he said.

He was n mitted to a hospital and his samples were sent for genome sequencing at a facility set up at Government Medical College, Patiala, official ded.

" genome sequencing report declaring him positive for Omicron variant came on December 28," said Dr Rajiv Bhaskar, state nodal officer for COVID-19.

man was tested again on December 25 and his report came back negative, following which he was discharged from hospital, officer said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister O P Soni directed officials to ramp up Covid testing and vaccination in state.

Presiding over a meeting of health department, Soni, who also holds health portfolio, took stock of prevailing Covid situation in state.

According to officials, Punjab's positivity rate stands at 0.3 per cent and has increased slightly over past few days.