Andhra Pradesh’s first Omicron patient from Vizianagaram tests negative

In a major sigh of relief, Andhra Pradesh’s first Omicron patient, from Vizianagaram, tested negative for the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). Not only he, but all the 6 primary contacts and 150 secondary contacts, whose samples have been collected, were also declared negative. 

Informing the aforementioned, District Covid Special Officer and Andhra Medical College (AMC) Principal, PV Sudhakar, told Yo! Vizag, that the man from Vizianagaram, a foreign returnee, is perfectly alright. He added that since the initial stages, the patient had no symptoms but was advised home quarantine after testing positive for the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus. “Samples were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the results showed negative. Additionally, we have sent 50 more secondary contact samples to CCMB for which results are awaited.”

It may be noted that six days ago, the samples of two foreign returnees, who had tested positive for Covid-19, had been sent to Hyderabad for genome sequencing and other tests. Of the two people, one had returned to Vizianagaram District from Ireland, and the other to Srikakulam District from South Africa. Both Omicron variant suspects reached Visakhapatnam International Airport before they travelled to their respective hometowns by road. On 12 December, 2021, the foreign returnee, who travelled to Vizianagaram, tested positive for the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. 

Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam District is currently treating 196 active Covid-19 cases. Of the total active cases, 20 are receiving treatment in the hospitals and the rest have been advised home isolation. 

Visakhapatnam District has completed administering 95 percent of the population with the first dose and 65 percent of the population with the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Read here to know what Vizag’s top health expert has to say about the Omicron variant.