Fully-vaccinated 20-year-old international traveller becomes Chandigarh's first Omicron case

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 12

A fully-vaccinated man who tested positive in December when he came down to visit relatives in Chandigarh has become the first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the city.

He has been tested as Covid negative today whereas out of his seven family members tested, five have returned a positive test today while one result is awaited. 

The 20-year-old man who lives in Italy and came down to visit some relatives in the city tested positive for Covid-19 on December 1. He’s been in quarantine since. His swab samples were sent for genome sequencing to NCDC, New Delhi.

“He was currently living in Italy. He had come to see some of his relatives here recently. His report for whole genomic sequencing has been received late night on December 11 and found positive for Omicron variant,” Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, Dr Suman Singh told PTI over the phone.

Also read: 3 more test positive for Omicron variant in India; tally reaches 36

The traveller had taken the Pfizer vaccine in Italy and remains asymptomatic.

“He is fully inoculated with Pfizer vaccine which he got in Italy. He has been kept in isolation for the last 11 days,” a statement from the administration said. “His report for whole genomic sequencing was received late night on December 11 and has been found positive for Omicron variant,” the statement said.

He underwent a second test on Sunday, the statement said.

“If he tests negative, he will be put under home quarantine for seven days and if positive, institutional quarantine will continue till his report turns out negative,” the administration had said earlier.

The Chandigarh health department also urged those eligible for vaccines to vaccinate themselves soon and asked the public to adhere to Covid protocols such as masks and social distancing.

—     With PTI