Assam reported its first case of Omicron on Wednesday, after a Saudi Arabian returnee tested positive for the new coronavirus variant, although the number of Covid cases detected that day increased by more than 100 compared to the day before, reaching 591 New infections, the National Health Mission (NHM) announcement stated.

Kamrup Metropolitan, which mainly includes Guwahati City, recorded 279 new cases during the day, a sharp increase from the 190 and 164 cases on Tuesday and Monday.

The enthusiasm of the day was 1.72%, which was higher than the 1.29% of the previous day.

Covid-19 took the lives of four people during the day. Two of them died in Tinsukia and one in Barpeta and Sonitpur. The total death toll in the state has reached 6,174, and the death rate remains at 0.99%.

Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said that the 35-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia was from the Hojai district and was found to be infected with the Omicron variant.

The minister said that his sample was sent to the Northeast Institute of Science and Technology in Jorhat because he tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a West Asian country. By this time, he has recovered from the infection,” Mahanta said.

The minister said that a teenager from the Digaru district of Kamstrup metropolitan area also tested positive for the novel coronavirus, but his sample was taken to Meghalaya State.

“Once we learned of his status, we started contact tracing his family and others. All agreements are being complied with,” Mahanta said.

The minister said that the state government has been monitoring international travelers, and the country’s cases of the Omicron variant are increasing.

The Minister said that between December 1, 2021 and January 4 this year, 3,198 people entered the northeastern state from foreign countries, and 52 of them were found to be infected with Covid-19, including those infected with the Omicron strain. .

He said that since December 12, the state has sent 1,598 Covid-positive patient samples to the Kolkata laboratory for genome sequencing.

The Minister said that among them, 1,348 samples have been reported, and all samples are negative for the new variants, adding that in view of the increasing number of Omicron cases in the country, in addition to monitoring, the authorities are also stepping up their response to any of the overall Covid infection. Increase.

He pointed out that the state reported 150 and 156 new Covid-19 cases on January 1 and 2 respectively, and the number soared to 351 and 475 for two consecutive days. Among them, the Kamstrup Metropolitan Area reported. The most infections.

The region includes Guwahati, the largest city in the state. Mahanta said the government is strengthening the infrastructure of hospitals and Covid care centers to manage the hospitalization of at least 25,000 patients.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times