Fact Check: No Omicron case in AP, media reports are false
He was tested positive for COVID on December 06, 2021. They immediately collected his sample and sent it to Hyderabad.
By Tejal Sinha Published on 8 Dec 2021 2:49 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Various news channels claimed that Andhra Pradesh has reported the first Omicron case on December 7.
News 18 claimed that a traveler from London was tested positive for Omicron.
ABN News had reported a traveler from Ireland was tested positive for Omicron in Andhra Pradesh.
Twitter users also shared posts claiming that a South Africa returnee is Andhra's first suspected Omicron case.
FACT CHECK:
The claim is False.
It is being claimed that a man with a travel history was tested positive. He had landed at Mumbai airport. His samples were sent for examination. Samples of him, his wife, and his aunt were collected. He was tested positive for COVID 19.
B. Jagannadharao District Medical Officer said it is true that he has been tested Covid positive. However, it is not the Omicron variant.
In a rejoinder issued by the District Medical Officer, the man traveled from Brazil to Ummilada in Andhra Pradesh on November 23, 2021. The man underwent a Covid test at the time of his departure from Brazil on November 20, 2021. His reports had come back negative.
He went to his home village of Ummilada in Srikakulam on November 23, 2021. Commissioner, Medical Health, Andhra Pradesh sent the details of the passengers to Srikakulam district and ordered him to undergo a corona test on December 5, 2021.
He was tested positive for COVID on December 06, 2021. They immediately collected his sample and sent it to Hyderabad.
District Medical Officer of Srikakulam said the person who tested positive had no symptoms of Omicron. He is currently being treated at RIMS.
It has been further advised by the health department not to spread rumors about Omicron. At present, he is COVID positive and people are requested to follow all the SOPs
Since the tweets also have a screenshot of Times of India, the team searched for any such report published by the newspaper using a keyword search. The team found a report by Times of India headlined, 'Andhra Pradesh: South Africa returnee tests positive for Covid- 19' published on December 7, 2021.
"A 51-year-old man who returned from South Africa and was tested Covid-19 positive 15 days after he landed in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district. To rule out Omicron variant doubts, the medical and health department of Srikakkulam is now sending the samples to Hyderabad for the test. Tension prevailed in the district after news took rounds of a suspected Omicron case in Santhabommali as the person came from South Africa. But district medical officials denied it and said that they are sending samples to Hyderabad to rule out the doubts of the Omicron variant," the report said.
It is therefore evident that the claim is False.
