8 new Omicron cases in Goa, total tally rises to 19

Goa has detected eight more new Omicron cases, taking the total count of Covid-19 cases involving the new variant to 19, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday.

Out of the eight new cases, five patients are local residents from Margao, Bardez, Chicalim, and Canacona with no travel history. The other three had arrived in Goa from the United Kingdom.

"8 Genome Sequence Reports tested positive as confirmed by NIV Pune, bringing the count up to 19. 3 - Travel history from UK, 5 - No travel history. These 5 cases are from various areas from Goa, i.e. Margao, Bardez, Chicalim, and Canacona," Rane tweeted.

The first case of Omicron was detected in Goa on December 28. The state reported 1,002 new Covid cases on Wednesday, its highest single-day rise in seven months, as the total tally of active cases in the state reached 3,718.

North Goa

Active cases in Panaji has shot up to 465 while Porvorim has the second-highest caseload 257. The health centre in Mapusa has reported 219 active cases while Chimbel and Siolim have 164 and 162 active cases each.

South Goa

Margao has the highest number of active cases 481 and Cansaulim have 286 active cases. the health centre in Cortalim has reported 190 active cases while Ponda has 147 active cases.