3 new Omicron cases detected in Mumbai

Arriving passengers being screened, at T2 of Mumbai airport, on Friday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Three more international passengers who arrived at Mumbai airport have tested positive for the Omicron variant of novel Coronavirus. While one of the returnees is a 49-year-old man from Dharavi, the second is a 37-year-old man from Gujarat and the third is a 25-year-old Mahalaxmi man who came from the UK. With this and more fresh cases reported on Friday evening, Maharashtra's Omicron infection figure now stands at 17. Though all three patients are in stable condition, the Dharavi man is unvaccinated, said sources.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Dharavi man is a permanent resident of Chennai. "He returned from Tanzania on December 4. He is presently admitted to SevenHills and recuperating," said a BMC health official. "The 37-year-old patient [who came from Johannesburg] has mild disease with cough as one of the symptoms, the 49-year-old has throat pain. The 37-year-old had taken both the shots of Covishield. The Mahalaximi man, too, is fully vaccinated," said the official.

Since Tanzania was not on the list of high-risk countries, the patient was allowed to leave for his house in Dharavi. He was, however, called back and sent to SevenHills Hospital after his report came in. The corporation has traced two persons who had come to receive him. The Mahalaxmi man's contacts were traced and they tested negative, said officials. The city's first Omicron patient was discharged from SevenHills Hospital on Wednesday. The hospital has 36 overseas returnees who are Covid positive.