Telangana, West Bengal report first Omicron cases

Telangana and West Bengal reported ir first cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while four more persons tested positive in Maharashtra.

So far, Maharashtra has reported highest number of cases at 32, followed by Rajasthan at 17. Omicron cases have also been reported in Karnataka (3), Gujarat (4), Kerala (1), Telangana (2), West Bengal (1) and Andhra Presh (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (6) and Chandigarh (1).

With this, tally of Omicron variant cases in country has risen to 68.

A 24-year-old woman from Kenya and a 23-year-old man from Somalia, who landed in Hyderab on December 12, have tested positive for variant, a Telangana health official said on Wednesday.

State Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao told reporters that two foreign nationals were asymptomatic.

Though y did not come from 'at-risk' countries, ir samples were randomly collected and sent for genome sequencing in line with protocols.

two close contacts of Kenyan woman have been identified and ir samples sent for COVID-19 testing. She was mitted to state-run Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in city.

Omicron-positive Somalian national could not be tracked immediately. He was, however, found later on Wednesday and shifted to TIMS, Rao said.

West Bengal officials said that a seven-year-old boy, resident of Murshidab district who recently returned from Abu Dhabi via Hyderab, tested positive for new coronavirus variant He left for a relative's place in Malda from Kolkata airport.

" boy flew with his parents from Abu Dhabi to Hyderab, where he tested positive for Omicron. He h not entered Hyderab city. He returned to Kolkata on December 11."

" state health department was alerted about his Omicron report by authorities in Hyderab only on Wednesday morning," senior official said.

boy has been shifted to a hospital in Malda, he said.

Of total 32 patients in Maharashtra, 25 have been discharged after a negative RT-PCR, state health department said.

"As per report given by National Institute of Virology today, 4 more patients were found to be infected with Omicron in state. Out of se four patients, two are from Osmanab, one from Mumbai and one patient is from Buldhana," department said in a bulletin.

Three of four new cases are of vaccinated individuals. One is a woman and three are men - all between age group of 16 years and 67 years.

More cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus are likely to come to fore in January next year in Maharashtra, a senior state public health department official said.

“ Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreing fast in world and Maharashtra is likely to see a surge in cases infected by it in January next year. cases of Omicron infection will be found in rural areas as well as in cities,” ditional Chief Secretary Preep Vyas said while making a presentation in Maharashtra cabinet meeting in Mumbai.

Under Centre's new norms, RT-PCR tests are mandatory for passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries and y can only leave airport only after results come.

Passengers coming from 'at-risk' countries to six major Indian airports have to compulsorily pre-book for on-arrival RT-PCR test from December 20 onwards, Civil Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday.

However, it clarified that in case a person faces any difficulty in pre-booking test, passenger must not be denied boarding.

six airports are in Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderab.

According to Union health ministry, 'at-risk countries include those in Europe including United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand and Israel.

Also, two percent of passengers arriving on flights from or countries are being tested randomly.