Pune (Maharashtra) [India], December 6 (ANI): A total of six people, including three Nigerian nationals, have tested positive for the ‘Omicron‘ variant of COVID-19 in Pimpri Chinchwad of Pune district, informed Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Patil on Monday.
“Around six people have been confirmed with Omicron variant of COVID-19 after we conducted genome sequencing. These are three Nigerian nationals who came from outside and the other three are the ones which came in their contact,” said Patil. “One of them have mild symptoms while the rest of them are stable,” he added.
Meanwhile, both Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Patil and Mayor Usha Dhore assured citizens that the authorities will take care of the situation and there is no need to panic.
The administration is vigilant over this issue. We will soon issue guidelines to restrict large gatherings in the city. We appeal to citizens to strictly follow COVID-19 appropriate behavior,” said Patil. “Citizens should not panic. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is on alert just like last year. We request citizens to follow COVID-19 norms,” said Mayor Dhore.
Several cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in the country with Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi reporting new cases. On Monday two more Omicron cases were detected in Mumbai taking the tally of India to 23.
The first two cases of the Omicron variant were reported in the country in Karnataka, followed by one in Gujarat’s Jamnagar and then another in Maharashtra’s Dombivili.
The new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25. As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year.
On November 26, the WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron‘. The WHO has classified Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’. (ANI)
Contacts of Omicron infected display only mild symptoms of COVID: Karnataka health minister
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 6 (ANI): Karnataka health minister on Monday said that the contacts of those infected with Omicron variant of coronavirus did not display any symptoms of the disease and this showed the importance of vaccinations in developing immunity.
Addressing reporters here, Minister of Health and Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar said that only two cases of Omicron were found in the state and the genomic sequencing analysis report is awaited.
“The genomic sequence report of those in contact with the infected has not yet arrived. New infections have been discovered in other states. The primary and secondary contacts of the infected too, are found to have no problems or symptoms. The infected is being treated at the Bowring Hospital and that he is in regular contact with the hospital director. Those who came in contact with the Omicron infected have received both vaccine doses,” Sudhakar said.
“The severity of Omicron infection will be low in those who have taken the two-dose vaccine. The mild symptoms of the contacts of the infected stand proof of this. A single dose of vaccine will not provide complete immunity. It develops only when both doses are taken, he said. The minister also urged every eligible to mandatorily take the vaccine at the earliest. (ANI)
COVID-19: No case of Omicron variant reported in Telangana so far, says state health department
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 6 (ANI): No case of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been reported in Telangana, informed the state health department on Monday.
The state health department said, “No Omicron variant in Telangana as of now. All the 13 Covid positive samples of International travelers which were sent for Genomic sequencing have tested negative.”
Several cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in the country with Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Delhi reporting new cases. On Monday two more Omicron cases were detected in Mumbai taking the tally of India to 23.
The first two cases of the Omicron variant were reported in the country in Karnataka, followed by one in Gujarat’s Jamnagar and then another in Maharashtra’s Dombivili.
The new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25. As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year.
On November 26, the WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron‘. The WHO has classified Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’. (ANI)
Action to be taken against travellers flouting home quarantine rules, says Delhi airport official
New Delhi [India], December 6 (ANI): Following the reporting of Omicron cases, authorities at Delhi airport are preparing to take action against travelers arriving from “at-risk” countries who are not following the seven days’ home quarantine rules.
A senior official said they have been getting complaints regarding passengers coming from ‘at risk’ countries and not following seven days’ home quarantine rule. Many were found meeting people and visiting places. “District administration and Delhi police have been asked to verify and report the status of people under mandatory home quarantine. If they are found flouting the COVID-19 protocol, then action will be taken against them,” said a senior official at Delhi airport.
“The complaints of flouting quarantine rule were found common in locals who have recently come from ‘at risk’ countries. They have filled self-declaration form mentioning their location and address before leaving the airport. If required tough action will be taken against such people. In the case of foreign travelers, they submit their hotel booking details with the authorities at the airport which can be easily verified,” he added.
Every day more than 1,000 travelers arrive at Delhi airport. “We have instructed hotels to provide all possible assistance to foreign travelers who are spending their quarantine period in hotels,” said the official. Eleven countries have been put under the “at-risk” category. Travelers coming from these countries need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing.
On December 5, Delhi reported its first case of Omicron, when a man who arrived from Tanzania was found infected and was admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital in the national capital. The new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25. As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year. On November 26, the WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron‘. The WHO has classified Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’. (ANI)
