Omicron Found: Karnataka Lockdown again, CM Bommai said issued new guidelines Soon

Karnataka Lockdown: Two people from Karnataka have tested positive for the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, on Thursday, said the health ministry. Karnatka Lockdown fear starts, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said will issued strict lockdown guidelines after meeting with Technical Committee and experts.

Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavraj Bommai, reacting to the development, said the two men travelled from South Africa and that the state was prepared to tackle Omicron. “We are consulting experts,” he said, adding that Omicron is a big challenge and fresh guidelines in the state would be issued soon. “Until and unless we restrict it we will have to pay heavy price,” Bommai said.

Speaking further on Omicron, Bommai said, “If anyone is coming from abroad, they should come healthy for the same of safety of other people too.” “We have to keep a sharp eye on people coming from South Africa and European countries,” he added. “We have been testing people coming from south africa. We have to have a different protocol. We are ready for it, we are careful and alert on tracking and testing.”

These are the first cases of the fast-spreading variant that has triggered global alarm. Karnataka Chief Minister said in Delhi he called emergency meeting tomorrow (03-12-2022) 1pm with experts. Addressing a media briefing Joint Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said all primary and secondary contacts of the two infected persons from Karnataka have been identified and they are being monitored and COVID-protocols are being followed.

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A 46-year-old male and a 66-year-old male were those who contracted the variant. Agarwal said that their identities will not be disclosed for now to protect their privacy. The 66-year-old man is a South African national while the other one has no travel history and is a healthcare worker.

Both of them were tested at a hospital on 22 November and found to be positive with mild symptoms.  Sources also said that while one was fully vaccinated, the other one was partially jabbed. The 66-year-old man landed in Bengaluru on 20 November and was isolated at a private hotel. Sources said he had 24 primary contacts and 240 secondary contacts, and all of them have tested negative. He went back to Dubai on November 27 after testing negative.

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Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner Gaurav Gupta told media the 45-year-old, a resident of Bengaluru who was fully jabbed, is now in isolation at a government hospital. He had 13 primary contacts, of which three tested positive, and 205 secondary contacts, of which 2 were found to be infected.

“All people who came in contact with the two patients have been traced and are being tested,” he said. “There is no need to panic about the Omicron detection but awareness is absolutely essential. Follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, avoid gatherings,” Agarwal said.

All Omicron related cases are found to have mild symptoms so far. In all such cases in the country and across the world so far, no severe symptom has been noted. WHO has said that its emerging evidence is being studied, the health ministry added.

As part of the new guidelines, the Centre has made a negative RT-PCR test mandatory for travellers arriving from countries identified as ‘at-risk’ (where omicron cases have been reported). The central government also directed states to ramp up testing.