Ireland returnee tests Omicron positive in AP

34-year-old pharma scientist returned to Vizag on Nov. 27

The first case of Omicron, the latest variant of the novel Coronavirus, has been confirmed in Andhra Pradesh by the state health officials.

A 34-year-old foreign traveller working as a scientist in the R&D analytical development wing at IPSEN Pharmaceutical Company in Ireland came to Visakhapatnam on November 27 by flight. He first tested Negative at Mumbai airport. Later, on December 5, the AP health officials conducted an RTPCR test, which proved positive. “Immediately, we sent his samples to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad for genome sequencing on December 6. The test results arrived on Sunday. He tested Omicron positive. However, he is stable now, without any symptom and his RT-PCR test on December 11 was also negative,” medical and health officer S.V. Ramana Kumari told Deccan Chronicle.

At present, he is under home isolation at Madhur awada in Visakhapatnam city. Seven primary and 15 secondary contacts got tested and the results were negative, Kumari added. AP’s public health director Dr Hymavathi said this was the first case of Omicron identified in the state. “A total of 15 foreign travellers were found positive for Covid-19 RT-PCR test so far and all the samples were sent to CCMB for genome sequencing. We received the results of 10 cases on Sunday. Of them, only one case was of Omicron. We are waiting for the results of the remaining five cases sent for genome sequencing,” she said. Meanwhile, it was rumoured that a case of Omicron surfaced in Tirupati on Sunday. However, the district health department clarified that no such case has surfaced yet. The authorities are on full alert, keeping the threat in mind. “A foreign returnee tested Covid-19 positive in Tirupati on December 8. His samples have been sent for genome sequencing. He and his primary contacts are in quarantine now,” officials said.