AP reports 10 new omicron cases, total tally leaps to 16

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh on December 29 reported ten new Omicron cases on Wednesday, taking the total tally 16.

According to the Director of Public Health Dr Hymavathi, ten foreign travellers including six male and four female who has arrived from Kuwait, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, USA and UAE to the districts of West Godavari, East Godavari, Kurnool, Anantapur and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh between 14-21 December and later tested positive in the state.

The returnee were tested Covid-19 positive and samples were sent to Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad for genome sequencing. The Omicron result was received by the Health Department on Tuesday night.

These returnees include one in West Godavari, one in Guntur, three in East Godavari, one in Chittoor, two in Anantapur and two in Kurnool. Among the travellers, three of them were tested positive after they got in contact with the co-traveller who was tested positive.

As per DPH, all the returnees are healthy and under isolation. Those in contact with these foreign travellers are traced, tested and their samples were sent for genome sequencing.

"Till now, a total of 42,156 visited different parts of Andhra Pradesh. We have traced 40,338 travellers and tested 39,642. Among them 87 travellers were tested positive to Covid-19 and 14 who got in contact with the travellers were tested Covid-19 positive. All measures have been taken at the airport to make sure that every foreign traveller is tested before entering their concerned district", said Dr. Hymavathi.

She advised the public not to worry and to take precautions and follow social distancing, wear masks, and wash hands regularly. People are advised to avoid being in mass gatherings, weddings, and travelling during this festive season. Also the health officials directed the public to take their first and second dose of vaccination.