Mumbai: Five of the seven Covid patients in Pune district detected with the Omicron variant have now tested negative for the infection, announced Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday. Four of the six patients, who were from Pimpri-Chinchwad and a patient from Pune City have also tested negative, he added.
On Friday, there were seven new Omicron-positive cases in the state -- three were from Mumbai and four from Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Pawar, who is the guardian minister of Pune district, said after a weekly review of the Covid situation in the district, “The health of all seven patients is good. Four of six Omicron patients in Pimpri-Chinchwad and a patient in Pune city have tested negative.”
These seven persons, including an NRI woman and her two daughters from Nigeria, had tested positive for Omicron in Pune last week. They were admitted for treatment in city-based hospitals and their latest tests came out negative.
Pawar further said that 100 per cent of the eligible population in the district has received the first dose of Covid vaccine, and over 1.38 crore shots have been administered so far. The pace of vaccination has increased in the district in the last 10 days, he added.
“It is true that people were a bit reluctant about taking the second dose, but now, after the recent developments (Omicron), the pace of vaccination has increased and queues are being witnessed outside the vaccination centres,” Pawar said. He argued that the focus needs to be on rural areas.
“Doctors from the state Covid taskforce have advised that we must administer the second dose at the earliest and if we are successful at that, we will be in a good position,” he said.
According to Pawar, the state government has received a list of over 4,500 passengers travelling to Pune district from abroad. “The search is on for these passengers. Passengers are being contacted and information related to their health is being recorded,” he said.
No new curbs in Maharashtra at present
Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday that despite Omicron variant cases, no new restrictions were to be imposed in the state at present. The state government would implement the Centre’s order with regard to the suspension of international flights till January 31.
“A search is on for those who have come to the state from abroad. We will find them with the help of police and get them tested. The incidence of corona from infected persons has increased in Maharashtra. However, there is no reason to worry. But citizens should get vaccinated immediately and corona norms should be followed,’’ said Tope.
“We are currently isolating corona-infected individuals in the state. People who come in contact with them are being tracked and tested,” said Tope. He added that the samples were being sent for genomic sequencing after tracing and tracking those who had come to the state from abroad two months ago.
