02/12/2021
2 cases of Omicron in Karnataka. Read 👇
India on Thursday reported its first two cases of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 from Karnataka including what could well be the first case of local transmission of Omicron in India, officials in the Union Health Ministry and state administration said on Thursday, adding that both were males of age 66 years and 46 years.
One of them came from South Africa – the first country to report Omicron last month – whereas the second individual is a Bengaluru doctor without any travel history, whose Omicron-positive status raises the possibility of local transmission of the new variant that has been described as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation. Both were fully vaccinated.
“Two cases of Omicron have been detected in Karnataka so far. We need not panic, but awareness is absolutely essential and Covid-19 appropriate behaviour is required,” said Balram Bhargava, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research.
The 66-year-old South African national reached Bengaluru on November 20 and tested positive. The 46-year-old doctor tested positive on November 22. Both gave their samples for testing before the WHO described Omicron as a “variant of concern” on November 26.