THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first Omicron case in Kerala has been reported in Ernakulam. The person who had come from the UK had landed in Kochi airport on December 6. He had come via Abu Dhabi.
He was tested negative when he had reached the airport along with his wife. However he developed symptoms later and was tested positive. His sample was send for genome sequencing at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology where it has been tested positive for the new variant of coronavirus.
His wife has also been tested positive and his local contact in the state is his mother who has also been tested positive now. All the three people have been isolated. The driver of the car in which he had gone from the airport also has been kept under observation. The condition of all the positive people are stable and they are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
He had come by Etihad Airways (EY 280) and there were 149 passengers in the flight. However the passengers who might have come into close contact with him are those who were having seats between 26 and 32. Since they will come under the high risk groups all these passengers will have to be tested with immediate effect. All these passengers have been identified.
Health minister Veena George said all the precautionary measures are being taken as per the Central guidelines and the contact list of the people who have come into contact with the positive person has been ready. Steps have been taken to prevent any kind of spreading, she said.
