After the Delta variant, the omicron variant is another severe mutation of Coronavirus. It has created a lot of fear worldwide and is spreading rapidly. Now, two cases of the omicron variant have been reported in Karnataka, India, said the Union Health Ministry on Thursday, December 2. The two people who tested positive are a 48-year-old male and a 68-year-old male. Further details are still awaited by the Centre. The goverment has requested public to not panic and follow the neccesary precautions to prevent infection.
Today, at a press meeting, Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Union health ministry, said, "To cases of Omicron variant have been reported in the country so far. Both cases are from Karnataka. All primary contacts and secondary contacts of both the cases have been traced and are being tested." On Tuesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had stated that his government is taking all the precautions, but ruled out the possibility of lockdown in the state. There might be chance of changing this decision due to the current situation of Omicron variant cases.
The new potentially more severe and contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) by South Africa on November 24, and has been included in the list of "Variant of Concern" by the global body, and was named Omicron . A variant of concern is the WHO's top priority of worrisome COVID-19 variants. Since then, the omicron variant has spread to 29 other countries and now India being the 30th. The Central government already implemented strict travelling preventive measures for International travellers to avoid the rapid spread of this new contagious strain and they came into effect from Wednesday.
Also read: Omicron Variant: Cases Double In SA, USA’s 1st Case, Rising COVID Cases In India
One needs to be aware about the symptoms of this contagious variant. The main symptoms of Covid-19's Omicron variant that have been observed in most patients as per South Africa's Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chair of South African Medical Association on omicron virus, are:
- Mild pain in muscles
- Scratchy throat
- Dry cough
- Extreme tiredness
- Slight or no fever