2 cases of Omicron variant detected in India, says govt

India on Thursday confirmed its first cases of the omicron coronavirus variant in two people who travelled abroad. The Union health ministry said that both the infected case are men from Karnataka.

One of them if 66, while the other one is 46 years old, health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said.

Agarwal said the two men came from abroad, but did not say from which country, or if they were vaccinated.

Agarwal added that all contacts of the two men have been traced and tested for the virus.

"We need not panic about Omicron detection but awareness is absolutely essential. Follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and avoid gatherings," the official said, adding that increased Covid-19 vaccine uptake was the need of the hour.

"Do not delay in getting fully vaccinated," Agarwal said.

The press conference was informed that the South East Asian region, including India, has only 3.1 per cent of the world's Covid-19 cases in the last one week.