Four new Omicron cases take U’khand tally to 8

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand on Saturday reported four new cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 virus, including a 15-yearold girl from Dehradun, the state health department said.

The number of such cases reported in the state rose to eight of which four have already recovered.

State director general of health Dr Tripti Bahuguna said, “Among the four cases, one is of a 28-year-old man who came to Dehradun on December 17 from Gurugram after returning from abroad. He tested positive for Covid-19 on December 21 after which his samples were sent for genome sequencing to Doon Government Hospital where he turned out to be infected by Omicron on Saturday.”

“In another case, a 23-year-old man had a same itinerary and returned to Dehradun on December 21. He was asymptomatic but sent his samples on December 24 in which he tested positive. His genome sequencing proved he was Omicron infected. The third case is of a 15-year-old girl who had no travel history but came in contact with this man in Dehradun.” she said.

The fourth case was of a 27-year-old man from Gujarat who had come to Rishikesh on December 21 and left for Ahmedabad on December 24.

“His samples tested positive with Omicron variant after which we have informed the Gujarat health department about it. Amid the rise in the Omicron cases, we have directed all hospitals and district health departments to make all necessary preparations for a possible outbreak,” said Bahuguna.

On Saturday, Uttarakhand saw a jump of 30 cases in daily Covid-19 infections cases, taking rally to 118 up from Friday’s 88.