A 45-years old woman from Canada, whose sample was taken on December 18, has been confirmed today as the first Omicron variant patient in Himachal Pradesh after eight days. However, the woman had tested negative for the corona on December 24. The woman had received double dose of vaccine in Canada.
According to the travel history of the patient, the woman had arrived at Mundra seaport on December 3, 2021 from Canada. As per covid-19 guidelines she got her RTPCR sampling at Indira Gandhi Medical College, (IGMC) Shimla on December 12 and was tested positive.
She had no symptoms of virus and was asymptomatic. As per guidelines, her sample was sent for testing to the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) lab in Delhi on December 18 after six days. WGS labs are the only labs in India, which are accredited for verifying the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus.
The WGS lab reported that Canada-returned woman had tested positive for Omicron variant, revealed the report from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi. The state health department received the WGS lab report from NCDC on December 26 after eight days, said the state health official.
WGS lab sent the report after eight days. The patient had undergone testing on December 24 again, but her report was negative. She along with her parents live in Mandi.
The health department has traced her contacts and all the family members, who have tested negative and they have completed 14 days of isolation period, said the health secretary, Amitabh Awasthi.
The woman has got the double dose of AstraZeneca covid -19 vaccine and she took her last dose on 25 April 2021 in Canada.
The health department said they have traced her contacts including her 70- year old mother, 79 years old father and her 48 years old sister. They have tested negative.
The doctors found her clinical symptoms were asymptomatic. The patient took her RTPCR on December 24 and the report was negative, said health official.
There is no need for panic and people have been advised to take precautionary measures and observe covid-appropriate behaviour.
