Omicron in AP: 34YO had no symptoms of COVID-19, was under home quarantine for 2 weeks
"The 34-year-old traveler had no symptoms of COVID-19 and was under home quarantine for two weeks. Immediately, his family members and those who came in contact with him – around 40 members – have tested negative. By the time the Omicron variant was detected, he had recovered from COVID-19 and was healthy," said Dr. Hymavathi.
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 12 Dec 2021 9:50 AM GMT
Vizianagaram: Andhra Pradesh is on alert after the state reported its Omicron case – a 34-year-old who traveled from Ireland to the Vizianagaram district. The genome sequencing which was done at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, confirmed the Omicron variant on 12 December.
According to the director of the public health department Dr. G. Hymavathi, around 15 people traveling from other countries to different parts of Andhra Pradesh tested positive for COVID-19 in November last week. The samples of the 15 were sent to CCMB, Hyderabad, and only one person tested positive for the Omicron variant.
The 34-year-old had traveled from Ireland to Mumbai airport on 27 November and was allowed to travel to Visakhapatnam after he tested negative for COVID-19. However, when he gave his sample in Vizianagaram, he tested positive and was immediately asked to stay in home quarantine and was under medical observation by the medical and health department.
"The 34-year-old traveler had no symptoms of COVID-19 and was under home quarantine for two weeks. Immediately, his family members and those who came in contact with him – around 40 members – have tested negative. By the time the Omicron variant was detected, he had recovered from COVID-19 and was healthy," said Dr. Hymavathi.
Ever since the Omicron variant has been detected in the country, the Andhra Pradesh medical and health department has alerted all the airports. As per the data provided by Dr. Hymavathi, from 15 November till date, around 15,714 people traveled from other countries to Andhra Pradesh. However, the public health department could only trace 12,900 travelers. Among those, 15 had tested positive for COVID-19 and one for Omicron.
"Our medical teams have been continuously monitoring all the airports in Andhra Pradesh. There are many who are in different parts of Andhra Pradesh who we couldn't trace. We have been asking all the citizens to be alert about the Omicron variant, especially at mass gatherings, weddings, and when moving in public places," Dr. Hymavathi added.
