Chennai: At least 54 people, including doctors, nurses and medical students, were tested positive for Covid-19 at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Saturday.
The source of infection, according to the doctor, is one of the patients, diabetics, hospitalized for skin graft procedures on December 17.
Although there was no history of travel reported in one of the patients, at least 39 of them had a s-gen-gene drop – the indicator they could carry the Omicron variant.
All patients have mild and stable infections, the hospital said.
On Saturday, Minister of Health MA Subramanian said the state had tested 3,038 close contacts of patients, including hospital staff, students and family members, between 18 and December 24.
So far, 54 contacts have been tested positively, he said to reporters.
Those infected include 18 health care providers – seven undergraduate medical residents, seven nursing students, two nursing staff, a graduate student and outsourcing workers.
At least 21 other contacts, including family members, have also been tested positively.
‘Spread among very high close contacts’ “We continue to track and test contacts.
Samples of all patients have been sent to sequencing all genomes,” Subramanian said.
The health condition of all patients is stable, according to Dean Hospital Dr.
E Theranirajan.
“Our team tracks and tests all health care workers contacts, including hostels and classmates, and those who sit with them for lunch or tea.
Nearly tested negatives have been told to report if they experience cold symptoms, sore throats.
Patients tested Positive has a mild and fine form of infection, “he said.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, most of the patients – confirmed and allegedly carrying the omicron variant – have mild symptoms.
“It is our biggest challenge.
They may not know that they are sick.
So, they will not isolate themselves and finally spread it to many close contacts,” said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan.
Scientists have warned that omikron tie immurbers and spread faster than other Covid variants.
“Initial data about contacts in the state has shown that the spread between close contacts and in the closed rooms is not socially and very high,” said Radhakrishnan.