After Omicron case surfaces, Village in Telangana imposes self-lockdown

Rajanna-Sircilla: In a first of its kind instance after Omicron surfaced in the country, Gudem, a village in Mustabad mandal of the district, went into a self-imposed lockdown after a youth tested positive for the new variant. The 10-day lockdown came into force on Thursday.

The residents took the decision to check the spread of virus in the village, Gudem sarpanch Srinivasa Rao told Telangana Today. Subsequently, the youth’s wife and mother also tested positive for Covid but it is yet to be ascertained whether they are infected by Omicron, he said.

The 28-year-old Gulf returnee from the village tested positive for Omicron on December 20. The youth, who migrated to Dubai in search of employment, returned home on December



16.

On arrival at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, his blood samples were collected, and on Monday, he tested positive for Omicron. Following the development, district medical authorities shifted the youth to KIMS hospital, Hyderabad, the same night.

Medical officials collected 64 samples from the village. Another 53 samples were also collected from Narayanapur of Yellareddypet mandal where the youth attended a marriage.

The samples of the wife and mother have been sent for genome sequencing.

All shops, hotels and other business establishments were closed, the sarpanch said, adding that he had made arrangements for supply of vegetables and other essential commodities to the villagers.