Omicron: 'Covid variants will keep coming, but..,' says doctor

A day after India confirmed the first cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, executive director of Fortis hospital in Delhi, Ashok Seth on Friday said that such "mutations will keep coming". He also stressed that the people should not panic and instead remain cautious about the health protocols, mandated by the ministry of health. "Coronavirus variants will keep coming. We don't need to panic but remain cautious and proactive. We can protect ourselves from any variant if we're fully vaccinated and observe Covid appropriate behaviour," said Dr Seth, according to news agency ANI.

The central government on Thursday informed that two people have tested positive for the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, in Karnataka. This includes a 66-year-old South African male and a 46-year-old doctor.

As the country increased the Covid testing at airports under the containing measures, more international travellers continued to test positive for Covid-19.

Nine international travellers, including one from South Africa, who arrived at Mumbai International Airport between November 10 and December 2 tested positive for Covid19, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation informed. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing.

A passenger from Singapore was also found positive of the Covid-19 at the Tiruchirappalli International Airport. The person has been admitted to a private hospital, while the administration has sent the samples for genome sequencing to Chennai and Bengaluru.

Classified as a 'variant of concern', Omicron was first reported from South Africa on November 25. In view of the Omicron, dozens of countries have imposed travel restrictions on the southern African nations since the mutation was discovered.

India has also added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in the country, including post-arrival testing for infection.