NEW DELHI, Dec 2: The Union Health Ministry has confirmed that for the first time two cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in India. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) that monitors the genomic variations of the pandemic causing virus has also confirmed the detection of two Omicron variant in the country.
Two persons — a 66-year-old South African national and a 46-year-old resident of Bommanahalli in Bengaluru have been detected with the new variant.
According officials, the Indian affected with Omicron variant has no travel history. His samples were collected on November 22, and tested positive for COVID-19. He was in home isolation and later shifted to a hospital.
Officials said 13 of his primary and 205 secondary contacts have been tested, and three of the primary contacts and two of secondary ones have tested positive. They have been isolated, and their samples have been sent for sequencing.
It was a matter of concern for the authorities that the local resident with no travel history has tested positive for Omicron. The person is clinically stable and under watch, officials said.
The South African national who had arrived in India on November 20 and quarantined in a hotel had left for Dubai on November 27 after testing negative. As many as 24 of his primary, and 240 secondary contacts were tested and all were found to be negative. They are still under watch, officials said.
Soon after the announcement, State Health and BBMP officials have started deliberations on further containment and contact-tracing measures. The Karnataka government is planning to set up dedicated facilities in hospitals with adequate infrastructure and required medicines to handle the possible outbreak of Omicron.
The State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that recommended a slew of measures in the wake of growing concern has said a dedicated Omicron treatment facility should be established at the State-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute. “Later, when necessary, a similar facility should be activated at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD),” the TAC report submitted to the state government suggested.
“All symptomatic/suspected cases of COVID-19 from the airport should be admitted separately in these dedicated facilities,” the report stated. The TAC recommended that the State should reconstitute the clinical expert committee to advise the government regarding treatment protocols.
(Manas Dasgupta)
