Chandigarh Man Test Positive For COVID-19 On Return From South Africa, Omicron Variant Not Ascertained Yet
It is yet to be ascertained if the South Africa returnee in Chandigarh is positive for the new Omicron variant, samples have been sent to Delhi for genome sequencing
Mumbai: A 39-year-old Chandigarh resident who returned from South Africa on November 21, tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. However, the UT officials have not yet revealed whether the man was infected by the new ‘Omicron’ variant of the virus. Also Read: Amid Omircon Fears, Union Health Secretary To Hold Review Meeting With States
The man had tested RT-PCR negative on his arrival at the airport. After that, he was quarantined at his residence and re-tested on Monday, when the reports came out to be positive.
Besides the man, his wife and domestic help have also tested positive for Covid-19. Two of his family members tested negative, while a test report of one of his family members is still awaited. Also Read: ‘Omicron’ Variant: India Issues Stricter Covid-19 Guidelines For Travellers From ‘At-Risk’ Countries
“As per protocol, positive patients are being shifted to an institutional quarantine facility at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. Also, samples of the positive patients will be sent for whole-genome sequencing to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, to find out if the variant or variant of concern (VoC) is present,” said UT health secretary Yashpal Garg.
“The UT health department is tracing the contacts of the family. Since it is not clear if this is a new variant case, there is nothing to be worried about. People must follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated at the earliest,” said Dr Suman Singh, director, health services Chandigarh.
The World Health Organization on Monday informed that Omicron carries a very high risk of infection surges and is likely to spread internationally at a very high speed and could possibly have severe consequences, but added no deaths had yet been linked to the new variant.
On Monday, 11 more people tested positive for Covid-19, as many as eight cases were reported from Chandigarh, two from Panchkula and one from Mohali. But no Covid death was reported from any of the three jurisdictions. Tricity’s active cases tally now stands at 138, with 58 patients still being infected in Chandigarh, 49 in Mohali, and 31 in Panchkula.
The UT health department on Monday requested religious leaders to support the vaccination drive, in view of the increasing COVID count. Health officials met Maulana Mohd Ajmal Khan, Imam, Mosque at Sector-20, Chandigarh; and Father Kajus, Father James and Father Tharthus, Church at Sector-19, and planned to set up vaccination camps at the mosque and church.
Meanwhile, citing fresh figures as per the Cowin portal, Ambala’s nodal officer for Covid vaccination, Dr Sunidhi Karol said 80% of the beneficiaries (6,80,037) are now fully vaccinated and over 104% have received a single dose.
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