The Omicron variant of Covid which was detected in South Africa has now entered various countries across the world ringing danger bells in the respective nations. As the WHO had warned that the variant is a ‘variant of concern’, the countries that reported the infections of the new variant are in a state of a tense situation.
As a warning to India, the Omicron cases are on a rise in the country. In less than one week, the toll of Omicron cases has gone up to 21. Maharashtra which went through a worse period with the Covid outbreak is now holding the second-highest number of Omicron cases in the country.
The Omicron cases have gone up at once after as many as nine fresh cases were detected in Rajasthan. What’s even more concerning is that all the cases were within a family which returned from South Africa recently. The Covid detection tests done at the airport detected fresh cases.
On the other hand, Maharashtra reported eight cases caused by Omicron after seven members of a family and a Finland returnee came in contact with the new variant. According to the information shared by the health department officials, the Finland returnee hails from Pune.
Tracing the emergence of Omicron in India, Karnataka reported two cases of the new variant, marking the official entrance of the variant in India. Later, Gujarat and the national Capital Delhi reported one each infection of Omicron.
Seeing the other countries facing the wrath of the Omicron variant of the novel Coronavirus, India had revised the guidelines for the air passengers coming from other countries, especially that of at-risk nations. As part of the guidelines, the passengers will undergo tests at the airport facilities. Based on the report, the passengers have to follow the Covid protocols.
The guidelines say that, if the passengers test positive for the Coronavirus, their samples would be sent for genome sequencing. If the passengers test positive for the Omicron variant, then they will be sent to special wards for treatment and the infection is of existing variants, the passengers will undergo the present treatment.