One case of Omicron subvariant BF.7, responsible for rise in China’s Covid cases, found in Vadodara

Vadodara: A case of the new Omicron BF.7 variant of Covid-19, which is rapidly spreading across the globe, has been found in Gujarat’s Vadodara.

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) informed about the new Covid-19 variant case after receiving the genome-sequencing result of a patient who tested positive for Covid-19 in September this year.

A 61-year-old female patient, a resident of the Subhanpura area in Vadodara, had tested positive for BF.7.

“The woman, aged 61, a resident of the Subhanpura area in Vadodara had arrived from the US on September 11, 2022, and tested positive for Covid-19 on September 18, 2022. The patient had taken three doses of the Pfizer vaccination and was in home isolation… Her sample had been sent for genome sequencing to Gandhinagar and the genome-sequencing result for the BF.7 variant arrived today (Wednesday),” the VMC said in a release, as reported by Indian Express.

“The patient is in good health and as per the guidelines, three of her close contacts were tested during the time she was Covid-19 positive. The close contacts had tested negative for Covid-19,” it added.

Health Minister Mandaviya chaired meeting on Covid situation

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in India and preparedness of public health system for surveillance, containment and management of Covid-19 in view of the recent spike in cases of Covid-19 in some countries.

Underlying and reiterating that Covid is not over yet, the minister directed the officials to be fully geared up and strengthen surveillance. He urged people to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour and get vaccinated against Covid.