Two more cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Odisha, informed the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The presence of Omicron variant of the virus was confirmed in the two persons following genome sequencing, said ILS. With this, the total tally of Omicron in Odisha has mounted to four.
The two infected persons are a 11 years and a 15 years old girls. They had returned from Nigeria with their parents on December 13, and were in isolation as per the guidelines. Their health condition is stable, informed Niranjan Mishra, Director of Public Health.
Odisha Health Director Bijay Panigrah today said that surveillance and vaccination drive will be intensified in the State. "We have been directed to upscale the daily Covid tests to 70,000," informed Panigrah.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday appealed to the people of the State to strictly follow Covid appropriate behaviour.
“Infections are rising due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19. We have to stay alert as the new variant is spreading very fast,” said Patnaik.
He also urged people to wear masks and practice regular hand hygiene. “Unnecessary travel should be avoided. In the past, we got adequate support from the people to combat any emergency situation. We can and we will fight this wave with cooperation of everybody,” the CM added.
Earlier on Tuesday, two persons had tested positive for the new variant of Covid-19. The duo had returned from Nigeria and Qatar respectively.