Omicron COVID-19 variant : New mutant strain now detected in 25 countries; Kerala, Maharashtra ‘states of concern’ in India

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reportedly held a virtual meeting with representatives of states over rising concerns regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. While India has already postponed the resumption of international flight operations that was slated to return to normalcy on December 15, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Parliament that 11 countries have been categorised as ‘at risk’ countries. While flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi continued uninterrupted, four travellers from ‘at-risk’ countries tested positive for COVID-19 at IGIA earlier today.Meanwhile, in a significant development, a South Africa returnee became the US’ first confirmed case of Omicron coronavirus variant in California. Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to US President confirmed the development and said that the individual displayed mild symptoms of Omicron and is improving at a medical facility.As Omicron fear continued to grip the globe countries struggled to reinstate measures that were on the verge of being lifted in light of a dip in COVID-19 cases.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres, however, said that imposing travel bans over the new COVID-19 strain Omicron was ‘unfair’ and ‘ineffective’. 

“Kerala and Maharashtra are the two states that have more than 10,000 actives cases, and around 55% of the cases of the country are reported in these two states,” Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary with the Union Health Ministry, said at a media briefing on Thursday.