India’s 1st 2 Omicron cases found in K’taka
NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry has on Thursday officially confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus in the country. As per the Health ministry’s Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, two men from Karnataka, aged 66 and 46, tested positive for the variant on Wednesday, and all the primary and secondary contacts of both cases have been traced and are being tested.
Agarwal further said that Omicron, since its detection in southern Africa on November 24, has spread to 30 countries, including India.
“As on December 1, 375, including two cases of India, cases of the Omicron variant have been found across the world. The new Omicron variant is possibly 500 per cent more competitively infectious and has more than two times the number of bad spike mutations than the Delta variant,” he said, adding: “We should strictly continue to follow Covid appropriate behaviour as a counter measure to protect ourselves from Omicron variant too.”
Meanwhile, on the issue, NITI Aayog Member Dr VK Paul said increased Covid19 vaccine uptake is the need of the hour and asked people to not delay in getting fully vaccinated.
“Scientific reasoning for providing boosters at what timing, for which vaccine, all that is under examination. Currently, let’s be very clear, our priority is very clear — complete the task of vaccinating all adults with both doses,” Paul said.
The NITI Aayog member further added that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is being carefully examined and the government will take decisions about the ban on international flights, booster dose and paediatric vaccination on the basis of it.
The health ministry has been advising states and Union Territories to keep a strict vigil and undertake surveillance of international passengers coming to the country through various airports.