20-year-old from Italy is first case of Omicron in Chandigarh
Jagriti Uppal
Chandigarh, December 12
A 20-year-old male who is a resident of Italy is the first case of Omicron variant of coronavirus in Chandigarh.
The man had landed in India on November 22. He had come to visit his relatives in Chandigarh and was under home quarantine. Then later found that he was Covid positive on retesting on 1st Dec, as per protocol he was then put under institutional quarantine. His COVID positive sample was sent for whole-genome sequencing to NCDC, New Delhi “according to a spokesperson of Chandigarh administration”. His seven high-risk family contacts were put under quarantine immediately and were tested for COVID 19 by RTPCR method. All of them were tested as negative. The traveller has been asymptomatic throughout and he was found fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine which he took to Italy. He has been kept in separate isolation for 11 days. His report for whole genomic sequencing has been received late at night on 11.12.21 and has been found positive for the Omicron variant. He has been tested for COVID 19 again today by RTPCR method and the report is awaited. If he is negative he will be put under home quarantine for seven days and if positive then institutional quarantine will continue till negative. His seven high-risk contacts have also been tested again today as a precautionary measure. The Health department appeals to all citizens to follow Covid appropriate behaviour and those who have not taken the Covid vaccine or have had only one dose should complete their vaccination at the earliest.
