PANAJI
Eight more cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Goa have been confirmed by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, on a day when the state recorded 1,002 new Covid cases.
The State Health Minister informed that eight genome sequence reports tested positive and have been confirmed by NIV Pune, bringing the total count of Omicron cases officially confirmed in
Goa up to 19.
While the State is grappling with the surge in cases post the festive season, the Health Ministry announced that the State is all set to receive its own genome sequencing machine on January 15.
The machine is expected to be received under the Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic control (RISE) project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which will be implemented through John Hopkins Programme for International Education on Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO), a non-profit organization affiliated with the eponymous university.
“Through USAID and JHPIEGO, Goa is all set to receive its first genome sequencing machine on January 15. If that happens, we will be able to test samples immediately. They will be giving us testing kits free of cost for a year. The machine cost is actually Rs three crore but this facility will be free of charge to the state government,” the State Health Minister said.
He added that if the state government receives the machine through USAID, there won’t be a need for the second machine for which an order was placed earlier.
He disclosed that cases believed to be of the Delta variant are turning out to be Omicron only after genome sequencing test. However, as the reports of this test are received only 14 days after forwarding the samples, the authorities have lagged behind in responding promptly to the developments.
“The problem is that this gets a little late as we don’t have a genome sequencing machine. It is likely that we will soon have a methodology available to identify the variant based on RT-PCR test itself. Now when you look at the overall scenario and the positivity rate, the expert committee keeps briefing the state task force led by the Chief Minister and we take appropriate decisions accordingly,” the Health Minister said.
Presently, Goa sends its Covid samples to the National Centre for Cell Science, Pune or National Institute of Virology, Pune for genome sequencing in its efforts to control the spread of the Covid variant. The wait for these results tends to vary between one and three weeks.
The Minister, however, evaded questions about the delay in procuring the genome sequencing machine after the second wave of the Covid pandemic subsided.
