Following the reports of four cases of the Omicron sub-variant, responsible for the enormous surge in Covid-19 cases in China, found in the two states of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will assess the Covid situation in the country at a high-level meeting today.
A total of four cases of the Omicron sub-variant BF.7, the strain primarily responsible for the recent spike in Covid cases in China, have been found in Gujarat and Odisha. According to the reports, the two patients in Gujarat with a history of international travel have fully recovered.
There are currently 10 Covid variants present in the country, with BF.7 being the most recent one.
PM's meeting comes a day after Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya called a meeting to discuss Covid surveillance, containment, and management of the virus across the nation, in light of the rising number of Covid-19 cases around the world.
Mandaviya evaluated the situation and urged people to act in a Covid-appropriate manner, including donning masks in crowded locations and getting immunized.
Sending positive samples to INSACOG labs is encouraged in order to keep track of any new variants, he said after the meet.
In order to keep track of current variants of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network and ensure early detection of additional variants, Mandaviya directed officials to increase their vigilance in order to trace the genome sequencing of positive case samples. Positive tests should be sent to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Labs so that all states and UTs can perform the same.
Meanwhile, random COVID-19 inspections of international travelers have already begun at many airports in the country.
The Center has urged states to accelerate genome sequencing and to send samples from all Covid-positive cases to the research facilities of INSACOG.
"Covid is not over yet. I've told everyone involved to be vigilant and step-up security. We are equipped to handle any circumstance", the health minister assured after the review meet on Wednesday.
Over the past 24 hours, the nation reported 185 new infections and 3,408 active cases, according to figures provided by the Health Ministry on Thursday.
