Omicron threat: Sample of Italy-returned man sent for genome sequencing in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 13

A Jalandhar resident, who returned to Jalandhar from Italy, has tested positive for Covid-19. This is the first case of an international traveller in Jalandhar testing positive ever since the surfacing of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. The foreign returnee has been kept under institutional quarantine at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar. Meanwhile, his wife and three children have been placed in home isolation.

The sample of the man has been sent for genome sequencing. Though Omicron variant cases have surfaced in some states of the country, none of the Jalandhar residents has tested positive for the new variant of Covid-19 so far. A total of 455 international travellers have come to the district from abroad ever since the Omicron variant surfaced. However, none of the previous travellers tested positive for Covid-19.

Notably, while the samples sent for genome sequencing earlier tested positive for the Delta variant. After the surfacing of the Omicron variant, 32 samples were sent for genome sequencing. However, no case of the Omicron variant has been reported so far in the district.

The number of Covid-positive cases in the district has reached 63,531 and as many as 1,500 lives have been lost to the deadly virus in Jalandhar. Notably, the cause for concern is violation of Covid protocols in many areas. Very few people wear masks in public places despite surfacing of the Omicron virus.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ranjit Ghotra said, “An Italy returnee has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been placed under institutional quarantine. The patient is asymptomatic. Samples of his family members have been taken and sent for genome sequencing. There has been no case of the Omicron variant reported in Jalandhar so far.”