Bengaluru : The nation’s first COVID-19 variant Omicron cases have found in Bengaluru as two arrived from South Africa tested positive of the said to be deadliest than coronavirus.

The Union Health Ministry has also confirmed that cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in India for the first time.

Two persons — a 66-year-old South African national and another 46-year-old resident of Bommanahalli — in Bengaluru have been detected with the new variant.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said the Indian has no travel history. His samples were collected on November 22, and tested positive for COVID-19. He was in home isolation and later shifted to a hospital.

Gupta said 13 of his primary and 205 secondary contacts have been tested, and three of the primary contacts and two of secondary ones have tested positive. They have been isolated, and their samples have been sent for sequencing. The local tested is a matter of concern.

The South African national, after tested negative on Nov 27, has left for Dubai and quarantined in a hotel. As many as 24 of his primary, and 240 secondary contacts were tested, and found to be negative. They are still under watch.

State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that recommended a slew of measures in the wake of growing concern has said that a dedicated Omicron treatment facility should be established at the State-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute.
“All symptomatic/suspected cases of COVID-19 from the airport should be admitted separately in these dedicated facilities,” the report stated.