Bengaluru accounts for 92% of Karnataka’s Omicron cases

BENGALURU: Of the 333 Omicron cases in the state, 305 (nearly 92%) are from Bengaluru, as per the health and family welfare department. Of the 305 cases in Bengaluru, 33 patients have recovered, 95 are in institutional isolation and177 in home isolation.
Across the state, 60 people (18%) have recovered,178 are in home isolation and 95 in institutional isolation.
No death due to Omicron has been reported in the state, said department authorities, adding that all patients were asymptomatic.
After Bengaluru, the most cases are from Dakshina Kannada (9), followed by Dharwad (3) and Bengaluru Urban and Udupi (2 each). Belagavi, Davanagere, Mysuru and Shivamogga have reported one case each.
Eight Omicron patients traced in Karnataka are from other states, which have been notified. In all Omicron cases, upper respiratory infection is seen and not lung involvement. The first two Omicron cases in India were reported from Bengaluru on December 2, 2021. While one patient travelled from South Africa, the other was a doctor from the city with no travel history. “Of the 333 Omicron cases in the state, 198 had international travel history and 77 domestic,” said D Randeep, commissioner, health and family welfare department. In the remaining 58 cases, no travel history was seen.
However, experts say it’s not just Omicron cases which are being reported but Delta variant is present too. Dr Pradeep Rangappa, critical care specialist and member of state Covid critical care support team, says Delta can’t be ignored. “Not all samples are sent for genomic sequencing. Though the rapid rise in Karnataka numbers can lead to the assumption that it is due to Omicron, Delta is also in circulation. There are patients admitted for moderate disease, though there is no rise in ICU admissions,” he said.
As per genomic sequencing data, 4,945 samples have been sequenced, of which 59% were found to be of Delta variant and 27% of Delta sub-lineages. Data accessed by STOI shows 7% of the samples sequenced have been detected as Omicron. “Percentage share of Omicron vis-a-vis Delta in batch samples sequenced is increasing with every successive batch. But among overall sequenced strains, Delta remains higher,” he said.