Omicron's entry into India: Government Alert

New Delhi, Dt
The Omicron variant, which has caused a stir all over the world, has entered India. With this, more than 3 cases of Omicron have been reported in 20 countries of the world, with the highest number of cases being reported in Europe. Two cases of Omicron variant have been reported in Karnataka, India, in which an 8-year-old foreign national and an 8-year-old health worker have been found with Omicron variant. In addition, five other people who came in contact with one of the two people infected with Omicron were also found to have coronary heart disease. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing. Meanwhile, four more tourists who came to Delhi from 'dangerous' countries on the Omicron issue were found to be positive, officials said.
Both the patients infected with Omicron in Karnataka have mild symptoms, the health ministry said. There is no need to panic even though Omicron cases have been registered in India. People need to follow rules like wearing masks, keeping social distance and getting vaccinated without any delay. Love Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Health, said that out of the two cases of Omicron, the 9-year-old was a South African national who arrived in Bangalore on November 20. He was kept in isolation in a hotel after his report at the airport came back positive. However, he was on his way to Dubai on November 9 after his report in another lab turned negative. Information has also been obtained from 8 primary and 20 secondary contacts who came in contact with him.
He added that another patient infected with Omicron was a doctor at a hospital in Bengaluru. No information is available about his foreign trips, including to South Africa. Although both patients had taken both doses of the corona vaccine, they were overwhelmed by the omicron. All the people who came in contact with both the patients have been traced and tested. The health of the Bengaluru doctor is currently improving.
Central Health Officer Love Agarwal said that no serious symptoms have been reported in patients infected with Omicron variant of Corona in the world so far. No concrete scientific facts have yet been uncovered about the new variant of the Omicron. Whatever decision is taken in the future should be taken after all the scientific facts have come to light.
On the question of booster doses, Dr. V.K. Paul said efforts are currently being made around the world to understand the features and effects of Omicron. Studies are also underway for booster doses of the vaccine. The government will take a decision based on the situation. According to a national survey by online platform Local Circles, doctors in South Africa have found more cases of the Omicron variant among people under the age of five.
Meanwhile, four foreign tourists at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi have been found to be infected with corona, one of the countries listed as 'dangerous' on the Omicron variant issue. Officials said three of the eight people on the Air France flight at the airport and one of the 12 passengers on a flight from London were infected with corona. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing. In addition, a total of eight people from 'at-risk' countries tested positive for Corona. These people have been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital. In two days, 4.5 tourists from dangerous countries came to India, out of which 10 tourists have reported positive corona.
Meanwhile, 4.5 new cases of corona were reported in the country on Thursday, with six more deaths. The total number of corona cases reported in the country is 2,8,09,81 while the death toll has risen to 2,8,8. The number of active cases of corona has increased to 4.5. So far, 4,30,8,08 patients of Corona have recovered in the country. The Kerala government has announced that 203 people have died in the last few days due to corona, based on new guidelines from the central government and Supreme Court directives.