Chandigarh Man Tests COVID Positive After Returning From South Africa, Genome Sequencing Next

The new Covid-19 variant seems to have wreaked havoc across the world, with fresh cases been reported in many countries. In India too, a suspected second case of the variant has now been reported.

A 39-year-old man, who returned from South Africa, tested positive for COVID-19 in Chandigarh on Monday, news agency ANI reported. The man returned from South Africa on November 21.

Reuters

Tested negative at first

Initially, after he returned from South Africa, the health officials conducted an RT-PCR test at the airport on his arrival and he was tested negative. Later, he was home quarantined. Then after seven days, following re-testing, the man, resident of Sector 36, was found infected with COVID-19.

Family member, domestic help positive too

Along with the man, one family member and his domestic help tested positive too. Two of his other family members have been tested negative and one more member's test report is awaited. The samples of the positive cases will now be sent to Delhi for whole genome sequencing to ascertain the variant/variant of concern (VoC), if any.

Reuters

"As per protocol, the positive cases are being shifted to an institutional quarantine facility. The samples of the positive cases will be sent for Whole Genome Sequencing to NCDC, Delhi to ascertain the variant/variant of concern (VoC), if any," said the health officials.

Suspected first case

Earlier, a man who returned from South Africa in Maharashtra's Thane district has tested positive for coronavirus, Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) said. However, it was not confirmed yet whether the patient was carrying the Omicron Covid variant.

The B.1.1.529 Covid variant or ¡°Omicron¡±, first detected in South Africa last week, was designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a ¡°variant of concern¡±, the health body's top category for worrying coronavirus variants.

Variant "of concern"

The announcement on Friday from the United Nations health agency marks the first time in months that WHO has classified a COVID-19 variant as a variant of concern.

BBC/Representational Image

The discovery of the new variant sent a chill through much of the world last Friday as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks, which were largely unknown.

Fresh guidelines in Karnataka

Meanwhile, in Karnataka, authorities have made seven days quarantine compulsory for all international passengers and intensified testing and sanitisation at Bengaluru airport amid increasing concern over omicron.

BCCL

Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday the samples of one of the two passengers tested positive for coronavirus but was "a little different from the delta variant."

Airport authorities in Bengaluru have also made RT PCR and Rapid Antigen testing for those travelling from other countries and thermal screening compulsory.

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