Manipur on Monday reported its first Omicron case in Imphal West district, while the infection has spread to 19 other states in India, official sources said.
Delhi has the highest Omicron case with 142 people infected with the variant, while Maharashtra has 141 cases in total, followed by Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Telegana with 57, 49, 43 and 41 respectively, according to the updates by the Union Health Ministry.
Announcing the detection of Omicron infection in a person with travel history in Manipur, the Manipur Directorate of Health Services said in a release that "Omicron variant of SARSCOV2 has been detected in an international passenger coming from Tanzania to the state,"
As per reports, the person with Omicron infection came from Tanzania on December 11 after testing negative, he reached Kolkata Airport on December 12 and arrived at Imphal Airport on December 13 via Indigo flight No 6E-6014.
While the person was undergoing strict home quarantine, according to the Directorate of state Health Service, he was tested positive for Covid-19 on December 21 on RTPCR. The test sample was sent for Whole Genome Sequencing to the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Takyelpat. Soon after getting the genome sequencing report, the Health department immediately shifted him to a special isolation ward in a government hospital in Imphal.
Speaking at a press briefing in Imphal on Monday, Director of Health Services Dr K Rajo said containment zone has been imposed in the surrounding areas of the residence of the infected person and strict contact tracing was conducted.
During the contact tracing, three of his close associates were found to be positive on December 22, he said, adding that the three individuals were kept in the special isolation unit at RD Wing, Imphal.
Sample of the three individuals havs been sent for genome sequencing at IBSD, Imphal after the detection of the Omicron variant, he added.
He also said that all the four individuals, including the one tested positive for Omicron, are all asymptomatic and are in good health condition.
Omicron variant is 3/4 times more transmissible than the normal variant, however it is severity level is very low, he said, "There is less chance of admitting to the ICU after getting in touch with Omicron."
Rajo said, "The public need not get apprehensive, at the same time we as a responsible citizen should not forget to follow the same old Covid appropriate behaviours strictly to prevent from mass spreading."
If Covid appropriate behaviour is strictly followed, it is easy to sustain the spread of any kind of variant, he added.
Ahead of the precautionary measures which has been taken up by the state government, it has alerted all the CMOs and have activated all the District Rapid Response Teams and testing teams, the director said.
The government will increase the testing rate and is also all set to give booster dose to fully vaccinated persons and normal vaccine to children as announced by the central government, he continued.
To meet any consequences, the state government has reserved adequate beds, oxygen, ventilators and others. Moreover the Covid Care Centre might be converted into quarintine centre again, added Rajo.
Speaking on the overall Covid situation of Manipur, he said the overall condition of Covid has improved and has been effectively combating the Delta variant, which was once vastly spread.
In the month of December, there was zero COVID fatility for 10 days, the recovery rate is 98.26 and the active cases is only 182, added Rajo. Stating that getting vaccinated and sticking to Covid appropriate behaviours are the only key to prevent from Omicron, he appealed to the people of Manipur to get fully vaccinated.
