COVID: 3 new Omicron cases from Andhra, Chandigarh, Karnataka; India tally now at 36

The number of Omicron patients in India increased to 36 as three more cases were detected -- one each in Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka – on Sunday.

First Omicron case reported in AP

The Director of Public Health department of Andhra Pradesh said in a statement here that a 34-year-old foreign traveller came from Ireland to Mumbai Airport. He tested negative for Covid-19 in RTPCR test at the Airport.

He was allowed to travel and came to Visakhapatnam on November 27. At Vizianagaram, he tested positive for Covid-19 during RTPCR test.

"The sample was sent to CCMB, Hyderabad for Genome Sequencing and the result declared as OMICRON Positive. He does not have any symptoms and was re-tested on December 11, and RT-PCR result found to be Negative for Covid-19. There are no other Omicron cases in the state. This is the first case of OMICRON identified in Andhra Pradesh," the statement added.

Third case of Omicron detected in Karnataka

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Sunday informed that the third case of Omicron has been detected in the state.

A 34-year-old male returning from South Africa has tested positive. He has been isolated and being treated in a government hospital, said the Minister.

As many as five primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced and samples sent for testing, Sudhakar said.

"Third case of #Omicron has been detected in Karnataka. A 34-year-old male returning from South Africa has tested positive. He is isolated and being treated in a govt hospital. 5 primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced and samples sent for testing," the Minister tweeted.

First Omicron case reported in Chandigarh

A 20-year-old who came from Italy to visit his relatives in Chandigarh, tested positive for Omicron, becoming the first patient of the new COVID-19 variant in Chandigarh. After landing on November 22, he was on home quarantine and tested positive for Covid on retesting on December 1. A genome sequencing confirmed Omicron. (Inputs from UNI)