Third Omicron Covid-19 infection in Karnataka: S Africa returnee tests positive

A 34-year-old Bengaluru native who returned to the city following a business trip in South Africa has officially become the third person in the state to be infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The individual, who has since been isolated at Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, had flown into the Kempegowda International Airport on December 1 where he had been subject to RT-PCR testing and subsequently tested negative, according to the BBMP Special Commissioner (Health), Dr Thrilok Chandra.

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However, on the following day, after he had returned home, he developed a sore throat. When tested a second time, he was found to be Covid-19 positive.

“His sample which was sent for genomic sequencing. The result came late last night,” Dr Chandra explained.

In a tweet, the Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that “five primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced.” The five primary contacts include members of the travellers’ family plus the cab driver from the airport. The remaining 15 contacts are friends and family, the BBMP said, adding that all contacts have tested negative for the disease so far.

Even the 34-year-old traveller is currently asymptomatic, according to Dr Chandra.

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At Bowring, he joins the 46-year-old Jayadeva anesthesiologist who was the state’s second Omicron case.

The anesthesiologist is said to be still positive for the virus despite contracting the disease over three weeks ago. Health officials said that members of his family, including his wife (an ophthalmologist) and two children continue to be in isolation at the hospital.

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