15 Omicron suspects in LNJP hospital
Samples sent for genome sequencing, says Jain
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said that 15 suspected patients of Omicron, who flew into the national capital from “at risk” countries", are admitted to the Delhi government’s LNJP hospital. Of these, nine are confirmed coronavirus patients, while six have symptoms like sore throat, fever and history of contact with patients. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing and the results will take four or five days, an official said.
“The three new patients are from the UK,” said Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. Earlier this week, the Delhi government had designated the LNJP hospital for treatment of patients infected with the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
According to the Centre, the countries designated as "at-risk" include the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.
Travellers from these “atrisk” countries are following additional measures on arrival in India from Tuesday midnight.
Under the new norms, RT-PCR tests are mandatory for passengers arriving from the "at-risk" countries and they will be allowed to leave the airport only after the results come.
Also, two per cent of the passengers arriving in flights from other countries will be subject to the test randomly. “There were 12 suspected patients of Omicron till Friday in Delhi. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing and the report will be out by Saturday evening or Sunday,” said Mr Jain, adding that the Delhi government has two genome sequencing labs, one at ILBS and one at LNJP.
Talking about the new Omicron variant, he said, “More than expressing concern, it is the subject of caution and vigilance. We all need to be alert of this Covid variant.”
He underlined that the global health body, WHO, has called it a variant of concern but has not said that it will cause a major disaster.
The national capital recorded 51 coronavirus cases at a positivity rate of 0.08 per cent while there was no death due to the infection, according to data shared by the health department here on Saturday.
The Delhi police has instructed its personnel and their family members to get completely vaccinated amid the rising new coronavirus variant ‘Omicron’ scare.