Tripura recorded 120 confirmed cases of Omicron variant from the Covid-positive samples of December and January. The Whole Genome Sequencing confirmed the prevalence of Omicron variant from the samples sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBG), Kalyani.
Total 231 samples were sent for Whole Genome Sequencing in two batches. Among them, 120 samples, including six of December last week, were confirmed as Omicron variants.
The Health department had sent 69 RTPCR positive samples from January 1 to 15 and another 162 samples between January 16 and 31. Eight samples from the first batch and another 112 samples from the second batch were detected as Omicron cases, an official report said.
Of the total 120 cases, the West Tripura district reported the highest 76 Omicron cases, followed by Sepahijala with 14 cases, South Tripura 10 cases, Khowai 6, five each in Unakoti and North Tripura and four in Gomati district.
As per the report, no case of Omicron was reported in the Dhalai district so far. Meanwhile, more 99 samples were sent for Whole Genome Sequencing on February 15 last and the results were yet to be received.
When contacted, State Surveillance Officer Dr. Deep Kumar Debbarma said the Covid situation is normal now; there is no need to worry. He said, the Covid positivity rate came down to 0.35 percent on Wednesday.
Representative pic