Summary:
New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) A 37-year-old fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania has tested positive for Omicron, making it the first case of the new COVID-19 variant in the national capital. The patient, a resident of Ranchi, had travelled from Tanzania to Doha and from there to Delhi on a Qatar Airways flight on December 2.
He stayed in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a week, officials told PTI.The person is “fully vaccinated” and is currently admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital with “mild symptoms”, an official said.“He had to take a connecting flight to Ranchi, where he lives with his family.
Since he gave his sample at the IGI Airport which came out positive, we admitted him to the Lok Nayak Hospital as per the procedure,” the official said.
Authorities are trying to locate and isolate 10 people who occupied the seats close to this passenger on the flight.Delhi"s Health Minister Satyendar Jain said 17 COVID-19 patients and six of their contacts have been admitted to the Lok Nayak Hospital so far.“The Omicron variant has been found in one of the 12 samples sent for genome sequencing so far, according to a preliminary report," he said.The patient complained of sore throat, fever and body ache.
He is stable now," Medical Director Suresh Kumar said.The Delhi health minister said banning international flights is the most effective way to contain the spread of the Omicron variant. It is being reported that the gestational period in the case of Omicron could be more than other variants.
This means an infected person may go undetected at the airport All the cases have come from affected foreign countries.