Five more test positive for Omicron, self-defence needed, says Health Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five more were detected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19, taking the total count of cases to 29, said Health Minister Veena George. Four who arrived at the Ernakulam airport and one from Kozhikode were diagnosed with the disease. Two aged 28 and 24 from UK, 35-year-old from Albania and a 40-year-old from Pathanamthitta who came from Nigeria were diagnosed with the disease in Ernakulam.

The 28-year-old who reached Ernakulam from UK is from Kottayam. The 21-year-old confirmed of Omicron in Kozhikode arrived from Bengaluru. Of these, 17 are from high risk countries and 10 from low risk countries. Two were infected through contacts.

Those confirmed of Omicron in Ernakulam came on December 15, 19 and 20. The Pathanamthitta native reached Ernakulam on December 14 from Nigeria. He was under home observation and was diagnosed with the disease on December 18. His father, mother, wife and two children are in the contacts list.

The person diagnosed of the disease in Kozhikode arrived at Bengaluru airport on December 17 and then reached Kozhikode on December 19. Their samples have been sent to Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology for genome sequencing. All those confirmed of Omicron were admitted to hospitals. Their contacts list is being prepared.