Assam reported its first Omicron case after a Saudi Arabia returnee tested positive for the new coronavirus variant. The 35-year-old man, who hails from Hojai district, was found infected with the Omicron variant.
His sample was sent to the Jorhat-based North East Institute of Science and Technology as he had tested positive for COVID-19 after his return from the West Asian country. His report for genome sequencing was sent during the day. But very soon he has already recovered from the infection. Along with him a teenager from Digaru area in Kamrup Metropolitan district had also tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus, but his sample was taken to Meghalaya.
He stated that the state government has been monitoring on international travellers with rising cases of Omicron variant in the country. During the period between December 1, 2021 and January 4 this year, 3,198 people had entered the northeastern state from foreign countries, and of them, 52 were found infected with COVID-19, including the one who contracted the Omicron strain. Since December 12, the state has sent 1,598 samples of COVID-positive patients to a Kolkata laboratory for genome sequencing.
From the reports of 1,348 samples have been received, and all were found negative for the new variant, besides monitoring the situation in view of the rising Omicron cases in the country, the authorities are also gearing up to tackle any increase in overall COVID infections. He pointed out that the state had reported 150 and 156 new COVID-19 cases on January 1 and 2 respectively, and the numbers had shot up to 351 and 475 on the two consecutive days, the most infections are being reported from Kamrup Metropolitan district.
