THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has reported its first case of the Covid variant Omicron, Health Minister Veena George said.

The man who returned from the UK to Kochi on December 6 had tested COVID positive on December 8 and after genome sequencing, he was found positive for omicron.

"An Ernakulam native, who arrived in the state on 6th December from the UK through Abu Dhabi, has tested positive for the new variant. His health condition is satisfactory," Veena George said.

"The wife and mother-in-law of the patient have tested positive for Covid. We have taken all necessary precautions," the minister added.

The minister also said that the health department had alerted 149 passengers who were on the patient's flight.