As many as 246 persons out of the total number of travelers who returned to Odisha from other countries after November 24 have tested positive for Covid-19. Sharing this major update, Director of ILS (Institute of Life Sciences) Bhubaneswar, Ajay Parida informed that the institute has received these positive samples for genome sequencing to detect presence of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.
According to sources, the results of the samples are expected to be out in a day or two.
"Odisha government has taken many pro-active measures in the Covid fight. So far, we have conducted genome sequencing of 141 samples of foreign returnees. Fortunately, not a single sample detected presence of Omicron variant. After emergence of Omicron variant in country on November 29, we have received 246 samples from various districts (of Odisha) for genome sequencing. That is being done and the results will be out in a day or two. All the samples received for genome sequencing are samples which were found positive during RT-PCR test. Presence of Omicron will be known only during sequencing," said Ajay Parida, ILS
Director.
Odisha now waits with bated breath for the genome sequencing results of these positive samples.