Andhra Pradesh reports first case of Omicron variant of Covid-19

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, December 12

Andhra Pradesh got its first case of Omicron variant after a person travelling from Ireland landed in Mumbai and finally reached Vishakhapatnam, where he was re-tested.

The 34-year-old male had initially tested negative for coronavirus on landing at Mumbai.

When he travelled to Andhra Pradesh to meet relatives on November 27, another sample for Covid-19 was taken due to his travel history and sent for genome sequencing.

Health Authorities today confirmed that the sample tested for Omicron had tested positive, but a repeat Covid-19 test on the person today, a week later, had given a negative result. Authorities are testing all those who have come in contact with this person ever since he arrived in India.

The state Health Department announced that this is the first case of Omicron detected in Andhra Pradesh. But also stated that this person did not show any symptoms; as a precaution an RT-PCR test was again conducted on December 11 that came out negative.

The Director of Public Health released a statement that reads, “On conducting a second RT-PCR test in Vizianagaram, he tested positive for Covid-19. His sample was then sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad for genome sequencing and the result came out as Omicron positive.”

The official statement also says that so far 15 foreigners have been found to be Covid-19 positive and their samples have been sent to CCMB at Hyderabad for genome sequencing.

The state has assured people that it was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality and suggested that people follow the Covid-19 protocol.