Andhra Pradesh reports its first case of Omicron coronavirus variant

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh detected its first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 on Sunday. The variant was detected in a 34-year-old traveller from Ireland.

The patient is asymptomatic and tested negative for the coronavirus in an RT-PCR test conducted on Saturday.

A press statement was shared in which the state government informed that “a 34-year-old Foreign Traveller came from Ireland to Mumbai Airport, tested and found Negative for COVID-19 RT-PCR Test. He was allowed to travel and came to Visakhapatnam on 27.11.2021. On conducting Retest at Vizianagaram, RTPCR Test was found Positive for COVID-19. His sample was sent to CCMB, Hyderabad for Genome Sequencing and result declared as OMICRON Positive. He does not have any symptoms and was re-tested on 11.12.2021 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. So far a total of 15 Foreign Travellers were found COVID-19 RTPCR Positive and all the 15 Samples were sent to CCMB for Genome sequencing. Whole genome sequencing Reports are received in 10 cases and of them, one is identified as OMICRON. Public is advised not to worry and believe in any rumours but continue to take precautions and follow social distancing, wearing of mask, washing hands regularly,” the director of public health added.

#BREAKING: First case of #Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/y3kDAzO8vd

— Kalinga TV (@Kalingatv) December 12, 2021

The Health department in Chandigarh also revealed that a 20-year-old man from Italy has tested positive for the Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

This is the first case of Omicron to be reported in the union territory which is the capital of both Punjab and Chandigarh.

“A 20-year-old man from Italy, who landed in India on November 22 and was diagnosed with COVID on December 1, has tested positive for Omicron variant. He is fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. He has been tested for COVID-19 again today and the report is awaited”: Chandigarh Health department said.

With the new cases in Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh, the country’s total count of Omicron infections has risen to 35.