<p>A day after Bihar reported its first Omicron case, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the third wave of Covid-19 has begun in the state and urged people to remain vigilant.</p>.<p>He also mooted opening a genome sequencing laboratory in the state.</p>.<p>"Bihar has recorded the first Omicron case. Everyone has to be alert. The state is witnessing a sharp rise in cases, with the maximum being registered in Patna and Gaya. A large number of people from other states reside in these two places, and this could be a reason behind the spike in cases in these areas," he told reporters.</p>.<p>"The third Covid wave has begun in the state. We are fully prepared to tackle this wave. The health department has upgraded hospital infrastructure," Kumar said.</p>.<p>The chief minister said that a review meeting will soon be convened to assess the situation, and the possibility of imposing curbs will be discussed.</p>.<p>"People from outside the state are being tested for Covid -19, and if anyone's result is returning positive, his/her samples are being sent to Delhi for genome sequencing. We will discuss in the review meeting on opening a genome sequencing laboratory in the state," Kumar said.</p>.<p>A senior health official said that the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) at Patna already has the required permission to open a genome sequencing laboratory.</p>.<p>The first case of the Omicron strain was detected in Patna on Thursday. The 26-year-old patient, a resident of Kidwaipuri locality of the state capital, had recently returned from Delhi. Bihar registered 100 Covid -19 cases on the previous day. </p>
<p>A day after Bihar reported its first Omicron case, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the third wave of Covid-19 has begun in the state and urged people to remain vigilant.</p>.<p>He also mooted opening a genome sequencing laboratory in the state.</p>.<p>"Bihar has recorded the first Omicron case. Everyone has to be alert. The state is witnessing a sharp rise in cases, with the maximum being registered in Patna and Gaya. A large number of people from other states reside in these two places, and this could be a reason behind the spike in cases in these areas," he told reporters.</p>.<p>"The third Covid wave has begun in the state. We are fully prepared to tackle this wave. The health department has upgraded hospital infrastructure," Kumar said.</p>.<p>The chief minister said that a review meeting will soon be convened to assess the situation, and the possibility of imposing curbs will be discussed.</p>.<p>"People from outside the state are being tested for Covid -19, and if anyone's result is returning positive, his/her samples are being sent to Delhi for genome sequencing. We will discuss in the review meeting on opening a genome sequencing laboratory in the state," Kumar said.</p>.<p>A senior health official said that the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) at Patna already has the required permission to open a genome sequencing laboratory.</p>.<p>The first case of the Omicron strain was detected in Patna on Thursday. The 26-year-old patient, a resident of Kidwaipuri locality of the state capital, had recently returned from Delhi. Bihar registered 100 Covid -19 cases on the previous day. </p>