CHENNAI: New Omicron variants BA 4 and BA 5 were detected from samples collected from Chennai and its neighbouring districts in TamilNadu, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday.
Around 150 samples were sent to a lab in Hyderabad and presence of the new variants was confirmed in 12 samples. Among them, four were detected with the BA 4 variant and othe rs were diagnosed with the BA 5 variant.
"All of them are isolated and closely monitored. They are doing fine," state health secretary J Radhkrishnan told reporters. All those, who came in contact with them, were also identified and monitored. TN witnessed the first case of BA 4 variant three weeks ago at Navalur in Chennai. That patient has fully recovered now.
As far as new infections are concerned, 105 people tested positive across the state, with Chennai logging 43 of those cases.
