Manipur reports first Omicron case in NE
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 27 2021:
The first Omicron positive case in the northeast has been detected in an international passenger, who had returned to the state on December 13 from Tanzania.
Sources said that the infected person is a 48-year old resident of Tera area in Imphal West district.
Three people who were in contact with the affected individual also tested positive for Covid-19 and their samples have been sent for genome sequencing to determine the variant, Health Services director Dr K Rajo has informed.
Briefing media persons during a press meet organised by the Health Department at the State Ophthalmic Cell, Lamphel on Monday, Dr Rajo informed that the international passenger left Tanzania after testing negative for Covid and reached Kolkata airport on December 12 .
The passenger then arrived at Imphal Airport the next day on December 13.On the day of his arrival, the passenger was put under surveillance and the sample for Covid-19 test was collected from his home on December 20 on completion of the mandatory home quarantining protocol.
The test result returned positive for Covid-19 on December 21 and the sample was sent for genome sequencing at Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat wherein the Covid variant was found to be Omieron.
The passenger is already vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine, the director added.
Following the positive test result, Imphal West DC had notified for containment on December 21.During the contact tracing process, three people in contact with the passenger also tested positive for Covid.
They are currently quarantined at the special isolation centre of the government in RD Wing and their samples have been sent for genome sequencing, the result of which are being awaited.
Meanwhile, the passenger who tested positive for Omicron is currently in isolation at JNIMS and all his vitals are stable, Dr Rajo further informed.
Appealing to the public to strictly follow.the government guidelines, Dr Rajo said that the state is well prepared to handle the pandemic.
The government has been closely monitoring overseas travelers entering the state, taking into account that Omicron variant could spread in the state and the hysteria that will ensue.
So far, 480 passengers have arrived in the state, of which 306 are under surveillance, he conveyed.
The health director then informed that rapid response teams and testing teams have been activated in all the districts.
The Covid Care Centre in the districts are prepared to be reopened at any time.
"The Omicron variant has a higher transmission value (3/4) than delta variant but the variant is not dangerous.
Nonetheless, the government has taken up all the necessary precautionary measures," he said and appealed to the people to adhere to Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and get vaccinated as soon as possible, while wearing of masks is mandatory.
Mentioning about the Central government's announcement of booster shots along with vaccine eligibility for beneficiaries between 15-18 years of age, Dr Rajo stated that the government has already made preparations for the same.
As of now, only 1 out of the four international travellers, tested positive for Omicron.
There is concern of the arrival of third wave in February next year if the Omicron variant were to spread.
Thus, he urged the people to help prevent this scenario, while adding that any lapse could lead to spread of other variants in the state.
Meanwhile, Dr Rajo stated that the delta variant is now under control.
There were no deaths for 10 days in the month of December and the recovery rate has reached 98.26 percent.
The number of active cases in the state is 182, he conveyed.
As of December 24, 462 international travellers with Manipur as final destination have come under surveillance by the health officials, according to the Directorate of Health Services, Manipur.
All are being tested by RT-PCR on the eight day of their arrival in India.
Out of these 462 international arrivals in Manipur, 155 have completed their 14 days of surveillance with all of them testing negative, as of December 24.Of the remaining 307 under surveillance 194 have been tested on the 8th day with RT-PCR and four have tested positive.
They are asymptomatic and are now in a government hospital.
The remaining 113 who are on surveillance for less than eight days will also be subjected to RT-PCR testing and necessary Genome sequencing, if found positive, the directorate stated.
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