By Online Desk
The Union Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed two cases of Omicron variant — both in Karnataka.
“Two cases of #Omircron detected in Karnataka so far through genome sequencing effort of INSACOG consortium of 37 laboratories established by the Ministry of Health. We need not panic, but awareness is absolutely essential. COVID apt behaviour is required,” Balram Bhargava, DG ICMR, said.
“All their contacts have been identified and they are under monitoring. The protocol is being followed: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said.
India on Monday said that the country had not reported any case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The Karnataka health minister had said the sample of one of the two recent South Africa returnees appears “different from the Delta variant”, even as experts stressed vaccines remain a critical tool.
So far, around 29 countries have reported 373 cases of the Omicron variant.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’ According to the Minister, the COVID-19 situation is under control in India at present but the country is not free from this disease and Covid-appropriate behaviour should be followed.
The house-door vaccination drive is still on and about 70-80 lakh doses are being administered on a daily basis, he said, adding 124 crore doses of Covid vaccine has been administered so far in the country.
