Omicron spreading in the community; Those without travel history were found infected: Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday that the ommicron version of the coronavirus is a fast-spreading variant of the worry, which accounts for 46 per cent of the 115 Covid samples analyzed in the national capital so far. Jain said the variant is slowly spreading in the community.
He said stringent restrictions have been imposed as part of the Graded Response Action Plan for COVID-19 to contain the spread of the infection and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will take a decision on imposing more restrictions.
Jain said, “There are 200 coronavirus patients in Delhi hospitals. The genome sequencing of samples from 115 patients had 46 per cent omicrons. These people include people who have no travel history. This means that Omron is now inside Delhi. Yes,” said Jain.
“In fact, the variant is slowly spreading in the community,” the minister said.
He also said that out of 200 cases of coronavirus in Delhi hospitals, only 102 are from the city.
Jain said that 115 of the Covid patients hospitalized in Delhi have no symptoms and have been kept in hospitals as a precaution.
Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi’s health minister had said that several international passengers who tested negative at the airport were found positive after a few days. He said that during this time he is infecting his family members.
The DDMA on Wednesday decided that the COVID restrictions imposed in Delhi under ‘Yellow Alert’ would continue for the time being and the authorities would monitor the situation for some time before taking a decision on the new restrictions.
On Wednesday, it had declared a ‘yellow alert’ under the Graded Response Action Plan in the city following the emergence of the Omicron variant, following the rise in coronavirus cases.
The ‘yellow alert’ includes restrictions such as night curfew, closure of schools and colleges, opening of shops selling non-essential items on an odd-even basis and halving the seating capacity in metro trains and buses.
(with inputs from PTI)
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