10 COVID Positive Foreigners In Vrindavan: How Is India Tackling Omicron Variant

As many as 10 foreign devotees who had come to an ashram in Vrindavan here have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials told news agency PTI.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Rachna Gupta said that out of the 10 infected foreign nationals, three have gone home.

She said that the police have been informed about the three foreign nationals.

6 test positive from 'at risk' countries

A total of 6 persons have been found positive for Covid-19 travelling from 'at risk' countries on the first day of the operation of the revised guidelines for international travellers.

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Six admitted to hospital

The six have been admitted to the Lok Nayak Hospital after four of them tested positive for COVID-19 and two "showed symptoms", officials said. Their samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control for genome sequencing to ascertain if they have the new variant, Omicron.

Tightening its genome sequencing measures to ensure early detection of new variants, including Omicron, the Union Health Ministry has asked states to send ¡°100 per cent samples¡± from Covid hotspots, starting with two recent clusters in Karnataka¡¯s Dharwad and Maharashtra¡¯s Thane.

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States stepping up measures

States in India are stepping up precautionary measures over fears of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, which has now spread to around 20 countries.

In Delhi, for example, passengers landing from ¡®at risk¡¯ countries now have to get tested at the airport and can leave only once they get their results.

The Maharashtra government has made institutional quarantine mandatory for travellers arriving from ¡®at risk¡¯ countries.

The Centre on Tuesday extended the nationwide Covid-19 containment measures till December 31.

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Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed Parliament that India had so far not reported any case of the new variant, and underlined that the government was taking measures to ensure it does not reach the country.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Omicron was in circulation in countries before it was detected and announced by scientists in South Africa.

What WHO says

The World Health Organization has warned that blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of Omicron, but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.

India reported 8,954 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday and 267 deaths. This takes the country's overall caseload to 3,45,96,776, and toll to 4,69,247. The active Covid-19 cases have declined to 99,023.