New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said that the government has started random RT-PCR sampling among the passengers arriving at International airports in the country amid the recent surge of Coronavirus infection in various countries including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.
"We have also started the random RT-PCR sampling among passengers arriving at International airports in the country. We are committed to tackling the pandemic and are taking appropriate steps," Health Minister Mansukh
Mandaviya said in his statement in the Lok Sabha while advising the States to make sure that people wear masks, use sanitisers and maintain social distancing even during the festive and the New Year season.
"We are keeping an eye on the global COVID situation and are taking steps accordingly. The States are advised to increase genome-sequencing to timely identify the new variant of COVID -19," Mandaviya added.
Wear masks in crowded places, get precaution doses
The minister also encouraged the states to increase awareness towards precautionary doses against Coronavirus.
He further said that the health department has been proactive in managing the COVID pandemic. The Centre has also provided financial assistance to States in the fight against the pandemic, he added.
"So far, 220 crore COVID vaccine shots have been given," the Health Minister mentioned.
Mandaviya then claimed that the number of COVID cases is depleting in India despite its surge across the world.
"From the last few days, COVID cases have been rising in the world but in India, the cases are depleting. We are seeing rising COVID cases and deaths due to it in China," he said.
We are keeping an eye on the global COVID situation and are taking steps accordingly. The States are advised to increase genome-sequencing to timely identify the new variant of COVID -19
Notably, Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the COVID -19 situation in India and the preparedness of the public health system for surveillance, containment, and management of COVID -19. He urged people to follow COVID -appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated against the virus.
Emphasising that COVID -19 is not over yet, he asked the officials to be fully geared up and strengthen surveillance.
Mandaviya has already directed the officials to be fully geared up and strengthen the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure the timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation and its related aspects in the county.
According to health experts, this is because the new variant quickly bypasses the immunity that a person has developed through a natural infection with an earlier variant or even if the complete course of the vaccines are taken.
Initially in the pandemic, the virus mutated several times and the WHO declared the Delta variant as the most severe one.
The symptoms of the new BF.7 sub-variant are similar to the common flu and include cold, cough, fever, body pain, etc. As it is highly transmittable, it spreads to a larger group of people within a short duration.
Avoid international travel: IMA
In its advisory, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) listed out necessary steps to overcome the impending COVID outbreak, including wearing face masks in all public places, maintaining social distancing and washing hands regularly with soap and water or sanitisers.
The IMD has also advised people to avoid public gatherings like marriages, political or social meetings and international travel.
It advised people to consult the doctor in case of any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, or loose motions and to get COVID vaccination including a precautionary dose at the earliest.
The IMA also appealed to the government to upscale the preparedness for any such situation as seen in 2021 by issuing necessary instructions to the concerned Ministries and Departments to make available emergency medicines, oxygen supply and ambulance services.
It has issued an advisory to its state and local branches to take necessary preparatory steps in case of a COVID outbreak in their areas.
IMA also appealed to all its members to work proactively as done in the past to combat the outbreak.
"As of now, the situation is not alarming and therefore there is no need to panic. Prevention is better than cure," it said.
Indian states step up COVID measures
The entire country is gearing up for a possible fourth wave of COVID -19, with the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7, said to be the reason behind the surge in COVID cases in China, being found in India. According to the data from the Union Health Ministry, 131 fresh cases of infection have been detected across the country, while the number of active cases has come down to 3,408.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday directed the ministers and officials to tighten up the guard against COVID -19, which is on a rise in several countries.
In a high-level meeting at the seat of power -- the Secretariat, the Chief Minister asked the officials to be alert and ensure safety measures in crowded places given the arrival of tourists during the festive season.
The Tamil Nadu state Public health department has already written to the Union Health Ministry for mandatory tests at the international airports for passengers arriving from China and Hong Kong.
During the meeting, Stalin also reviewed the existing situation of beds, oxygen beds, availability of medicines, and other infrastructure in the state.
It has been learnt that the health department officials have informed the Chief Minister that 97 per cent of the people of the state have taken the first dose of COVID -19 vaccine and 92 per cent have been inoculated with the second dose and hence the possibility of a major surge of the pandemic in the state is unlikely.
With the surge in COVID cases in China and other countries, one of the most popular tourist attractions of the country Taj Mahal in Agra is put on alert, confirmed the District Health Information Officer in Agra.
Domestic and foreign tourists come every day in large numbers to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. Keeping the situation in mind, they will have to undergo a COVID test before their visit as per the official sources.
Anil Satsangi, the District Health Information Officer (Agra) said, "the health department has already started the tests to prevent the spread of infection. As the alert is on, the tests have now been made mandatory for all the visitors."
Kerala
In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases abroad, the state government on Wednesday decided to intensify measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the state.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to take steps to protect themselves from getting infected by the virus, although Covid-19 cases are less in the state.
Vijayan advised people not to ignore fever, cold and sore throat, and not to be in close contact with people who have symptoms of Covid-19.
Punjab
As the entire nation gears up for a possible increase in the number of COVID -19 cases in the next few days, Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann has called a meeting of the officials of the state health department over the COVID -19 situation.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has claimed that they have only nine active COVID -19 cases in the state with 16 districts of the state reporting zero COVID cases so far.
"We just have nine active cases of COVID . 16 districts do not have any positive cases of COVID 19 so far," said Chetan Singh Jouramajra, the Health Minister of Punjab.
Claiming that there is no need to worry in case of a surge in the number of cases, the Punjab Health Minister said that oxygen plants have been established and hospitals of the state have been prepared accordingly. "We have established oxygen plants, and have prepared hospitals accordingly. There is no need to worry," he added.
Karnataka
Amid the worrying COVID situation in China as well as the detection of the new Omicron BF.7 variant's detection in the country, the Karnataka government held a high level meeting at the Belagavi Suvarna Soudha on Thursday.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the meeting was held as per the directions of the Union Health Ministry for preventive measures against the virus. The booster dose coverage in the state has only been 20 per cent and the main priority is to administer these shots to 80 per cent of people.
"We have achieved more than 100 per cent in first and second doses. The experts are of the opinion that if a third dose is taken, there would not be much complications," State Health Minister K. Sudhakar said.
Sudhakar further stated that there is panic regarding the situation. But, the cases are spreading rapidly and hospitalidation is more. So far, Omicron variants have not caused hospitalisations. But, this new variant is causing it. "There are already few cases in other states. We would like to understand how bothersome this variant is. It is being contemplated to increase the number of tests," he said.
Sudhakar said that it is not thought to impose any restrictions on New Year celebrations and Christmas.
"We have to learn to live with Corona. It will be discussed whether to make rules or advisories."
Uttar Pradesh
With COVID cases rising in other countries over the past few days, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the COVID situation in the state along with the high-level Team 9 constituted for the purpose of COVID -19 management and gave necessary instructions to the officials.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Government, the strategy of trace, test, treatment and vaccine under the guidance of the Prime Minister to prevent COVID has proved successful.
"It is possible that there may be an increase in new cases in the coming days, so we have to be alert. This is not the time to panic, but to be alert and careful. COVID protocol has to be strictly followed and make people aware to wear face masks in crowded public places like hospitals, buses, railway stations, and markets. The public address system needs to be activated once again," the Chief Minister's office said in a statement.
Claiming that Uttar Pradesh is the most vaccinated state, the statement said that about 39.06 crore vaccination doses have been administered so far. As many as 4.48 crore precaution doses have also been given in the state.
Talking about the infrastructure development of the hospitals, the statement mentions that ICUs, ventilators, and specialist doctors were deployed in every district ensuring the functioning of medical equipment, proper availability of doctors, and paramedical staff in all hospitals whether rural or urban.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Thursday that the state government has received a letter from the centre regarding the new COVID variant and instructions have been sent to all the state districts in this regard.
"The Madhya Pradesh government has instructed CMOH of all the districts in the state to conduct genome sequencing of the positive cases detected. The reports of the genome sequencing will be sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to determine the new variant," said Mishra while speaking to reporters.
Speaking on the COVID Situation in Madhya Pradesh, State Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday said that the current number of new COVID -19 cases in the state stands at zero.
However, the Union health ministry has rejected the claim and has termed the message fake. "This message circulating in many WhatsApp groups regarding XXB variant of COVID 19 is FAKE and Misleading", said the health ministry on Thursday.
The viral message claims that "the new variant of the COVID -Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly. The symptoms of the new virus COVID -Omicron XBB are - there is no cough and there is no fever."
"COVID -Omicron XBB is 5 times more virulent than the Delta variant and has a higher mortality rate than it," the viral message claims further.
