The omicron variant has now been detected in at least 375 cases in 30 countries, including two cases reported in India, according to a list shared by Union health ministry officials on Thursday.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), believed to be highly contagious and capable of passing frequent mutations, has now made its way to India as the Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday that two people from Karnataka have tested positive. . These are the first cases of the rapidly spreading virus in India.
The omicron variant has now been detected in at least 375 cases in 30 countries, including two cases reported in India, according to a list shared by Union health ministry officials on Thursday.
Here is a list of countries where the Omicron version has now made its way:
India – 2 cases
South Africa – 183 cases
Botswana – 19 cases
The Netherlands – 16 cases
Hong Kong – 7 cases
Israel – 2 cases
Belgium – 2 cases
United Kingdom – 32 cases
Germany – 10 cases
Australia – 8 cases
Italy – 4 cases
Czechia – 1 case
Denmark – 6 cases
Austria – 4 cases
Canada – 7 cases
Sweden – 4 cases
Switzerland – 3 cases
Spain – 2 cases
Portugal – 13 cases
Japan – 2 cases
Reunion (France) – 1 case
Ghana – 33 cases
South Korea – 3 cases
Nigeria – 3 cases
Brazil – 2 cases
Norway – 2 cases
United States of America – 1 case
Saudi Arabia – 1 case
Ireland – 1 case
United Arab Emirates – 1 case
A health ministry official informed earlier in the day that the Omicron variant was first detected in southern Africa and has since spread to 30 countries (India being the 30th country). The Indian government has already implemented strict measures to prevent the spread of the new strain to international travelers. These measures have come into effect from Wednesday.
Notably, India was set to resume scheduled commercial international flights on December 15, but scrapped that plan on Wednesday, saying the date for the resumption would be announced in due course. The government has advised states to ramp up testing, a week after the health ministry said the recent drop in testing could undermine India’s efforts to contain the pandemic.