Chennai, No BF-7 variant of the COVID infection cases
was reported in Tamil Nadu so far, Health Minister Ma.Subramanian
said on Monday.
Talking to reporters here, he said the genomic sequencing report of
the six international passengers, who tested positive for COVID at
the airport has come and no BF.7 variant has been reported so far.
He said two passengers, who landed from China were affected with
BA5.2, one passenger each from Muscat, Kuwait and Bangkok had
BA.2 and another passenger from Muscat was affected with XBB.1.
Of the 13 passengers who have tested positive so far, six of them
have been reported with the variants that are already prevalent in the
State as Omicron variants.
At least 93 samples have been analysed in December and 98 per
cent had BA.2 or BA.5 and remaining two percent were affected
with the Delta variant.
All these patients are recovering well after being in home isolation.
Their health condition is being continuously monitored and their
contacts are also tested, the Minister said.
It may be recalled that due to spike in cases in some countries,
including China, Japan, Hong Kong and USA due to the highly
infectious and fast spreading BF-7 variant, all passengers who
are arriving from these high risk nations are subjected to RT-PCR
tests at the Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai International
airports to prevent its spread in the State.
The tests are being conducted since December 24 last year
onwards.
