PANJIM: Amid tourists rush for Christmas and year-end celebration, Goa reported its first case of Omicron variant of COVID19 on Monday, after an eight-year-old boy, with a travel history to the high risk Union Kingdom, was found infected.
The boy had came to Goa on December 17, with his father from the UK. The boy had tested positive for Covid infection on arrival along with his father.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed that the 8 year old boy who had travelled from the UK on December 12 has tested positive for Omicron variant of Covid-19 as confirmed by National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
Rane said that government will take steps as per the protocol of the Government of India.
“Necessary stringent measures will be taken by the government of Goa in public interest based on the advice given by the expert committee,” Rane said.
Sources informed that the boy and his father have been isolated at Cansaulim health center.
The father has though tested negative for Omicron variant, his sample will be retested for further confirmation, sources said.
Meanwhile, a report of a 13-year-old boy, again with travel history from UK is negative for the Omicron variant and more reports are awaited.
So far, the samples of ten travellers, who had tested positive for Covid, have come negative for the new variant.
India’s omicron tally has witnessed a daily surge with so far nearly 588 cases reported across 20 states.
The State government has already ruled out imposing any restrictions in the State but has asked the tourism stakeholders to stay alert and ensure there is no spread of COVID-19 during festivities.
Goa’s daily covid positivity rate is also witnessing sharp increase from below one per cent until last month to nearly three per cent till Saturday.
