Covid-19: Karnataka reports 5 new cases of Omicron variant

Karnataka confirmed five new cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 on Sunday, said state Health Minister K Sudhakar. Among the new cases, one is a male patient while the four are women.

The cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant have been reported from Karnataka's Dharwad, Bhadravathi, Udupi, and Mangaluru. With the confirmation of new infections, Karnataka so far reported 13 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

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A new variant of Covid-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25. As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year.

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On November 26, the WHO named the new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as a 'variant of concern'.

Meanwhile, Omicron cases are leading to a surge in Covid-19 cases in the national capital. As Delhi recorded 107 fresh Covid-19 cases which is the highest in six months, a health expert said the spike could be due to the Omicron variant.

The Community Medicine Professor, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. Sanjay Rai said, "The infectivity of Omicron variant is very high. When it goes to a susceptible population, then it will rise and fall quickly just like it happened in the second wave. It is a natural phenomenon and we need to watch it closely."

Dr. Rai said that the rise and fall of cases will happen but we also need to strengthen the infrastructure.

-PTC News