5 contacts of first Omicron-infected person in India test Covid-19 positive

Bengaluru: As many as five persons who were primary and secondary contacts of one of the infected persons with Omicron variant in India have tested positive for Covid-19, IANS reported.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta on Thursday said that their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing for confirmation.

Gupta noted that the Omicron variant has been found in a person who doesn't have travel history.

"The patient was tested after fever, body ache symptoms developed in him. His samples were tested on November 22 and later, samples were sent for genomic sequencing on November 24."

He cautioned that there is a possibility of the presence of Omicron virus in the society. and urged people to to be careful and wear masks.

According to a statement issued by the BBMP, one of the two patients found infected with the Omicron variant is a 66-year-old male while the other is a 46-year-old male. The former had returned from South Africa, via Dubai, and was fully vaccinated.

"All primary 24 contacts and 240 secondary contacts have been traced and samples were taken by Urban Primary Health Centre officials. All have been tested negative. We are keeping a watch on them till date," he underlined.

The infected person had taken a test in another lab and tested negative. Since he had pre-fixed the programme he was allowed to go to Dubai through Bengaluru airport, he explained.

The sample was collected from a 46-year-old person on November 22 and sent to the NCBS lab. His result has also shown that he is positive for Omicron virus. He was kept in home isolation first and later shifted to hospital, he said.

His 13 primary contacts and 205 secondary contacts have been tracked. Three among primary contacts and two among secondary contacts have been tested positive for Covid-19. They have been isolated and further their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing for confirmation of presence of Omicron virus and results are awaited, he explained. The second person didn't have travel history, Gupta said.

Genomic sequencing tests took 2 months to give results earlier. Now, results are available in 8 days.

Series of meetings have already been held to discuss handling of the situation in the wake of the arrival of new variant, he said.