No Case of Omicron Variant in India, 2 Clusters under Investigation, Says Govt

The government said that two clusters are being investigated in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to exercise caution in the wake of the new strain. He was addressing the mediapersons before the start of the winter session of Parliament.

No case of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus has been detected in India, senior government officials said on Monday. They added that two clusters are under investigation - one in Maharashtra and another one in Karnataka.

The clarification comes a day after a man tested positive for Covid-19 in Dombivli, in Maharashtra’s Thane district. He had travelled from Cape Town to Dombivli on November 24.

The man’s samples were sent for genome testing to determine if he has been infected with the Omicron strain.

Karnataka, meanwhile, has ordered precautionary measures in Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts bordering Kerala. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai underlined that there was high prevalence of Covid among people coming from Kerala. The state government has also urged the Centre to impose a travel ban on passengers coming from South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana.

The variant emerged in southern Africa earlier this month and has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has so far spread to 15 countries.

Published on Nov 29, 2021 11:26 AM IST

By hindustantimes.com

| Written by Amit Chaturvedi, Hindustan Times, New Delhi