A 20-year-old man hailing from Italy, who reached Chandigarh last month has tested positive for Omicron variant of COVID-19, said an official statement on Sunday.
It’s the first case of the Omicron variant in Union Territory - Chandigarh.
The person, who is fully vaccinated is a resident of Italy, had landed in India on November 22 and then came to Chandigarh to visit his relatives, said a statement issued by the health department.
“He was under home quarantine and was found COVID positive on retesting on December 1. As per protocol he was then put under institutional quarantine. His COVID positive sample was sent for whole genome sequencing to National Centre for Diseases Controlin, New Delhi. His report for whole genomic sequencing was received late night on December 11, 2021 and has been found positive for Omicron variant,” said the statement.
The statement added that the person has been tested for COVID-19 again today by RT-PCR method and the report is awaited. “If he is found to be negative, then he will be put under home quarantine for seven days and if positive, institutional quarantine will continue till negative. His seven high risk family contacts were put under quarantine and were tested for COVID-19 by RT-PCR method. All of them were tested as negative,” added the statement.
The traveler has been asymptomatic throughout. He is fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine which he took in Italy.
The Health department has appeal everyone to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and those who have not taken COVID vaccine or have had only one dose should complete their vaccination at the earliest.
