With Beijing deciding to ease restrictions on movement on December 7, ending the country's zero-Covid policy, here's how India has upped its battle to fight the Covid-19 scare.
The unfolding fear of rising Covid-19 cases in China has once again raised concern in India. Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China's current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India so far, official sources said on Wednesday.
Two have been detected in Gujarat while Odisha recorded one case. The two new cases of BF.7 have been detected in Gujarat's Vadodara and Ahmedabad. BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability since it is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.
With Beijing deciding to ease restrictions on movement on December 7, ending the country's zero-Covid policy, here's how India has upped its battle to fight Covid-19 scare.
In the Covid review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday, experts said although there is no overall increase in Covid caseload as of now, there is a need for continued surveillance to keep a track of existing and emerging variants.
The minister asked people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places and getting vaccinated.
Noting that only 27 to 28 per cent of India's eligible population have taken the Covid precaution dose, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul, after the meeting, said people should take the jab and also wear masks in crowded places.
"People should wear masks in crowded areas. Those with comorbidities and the old should especially adhere to this," Paul said and urged people not to panic.
After the review meeting, Mandaviya said Covid-19 is not over yet. "I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation."
The government will again hold a meeting next week to monitor the situation.
Top doctors body Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also asked people to get their booster doses.
Vaccines train the human immune system to fight the virus. They prevent death and severe disease and are also known to reduce transmission. Most vaccines have two doses. Since vaccine-induced protection is known to wane over time, booster doses are taken to update the protection.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in India and directed officials to increase Covid-19 testing and advised states to carry out an audit of their healthcare infrastructure, including the availability of oxygen.
Modi cautioned against complacency and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports.
Modi directed officials to ramp up testing and genome sequencing of Covid-19 samples.
States have been asked to share a larger number of samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (lGSLs) for genome sequencing on a daily basis, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Modi in the meeting also advised the states to carry out audits of their healthcare infrastructure, including the availability of oxygen. He also advised regular monitoring of prices and availability of essential medicines.
The government on Thursday said that two per cent of passengers arriving on each international flight will be subject to random coronavirus tests from December 24.
Following random testing, if anybody is found Covid-positive, the sample should be sent for genomic testing at the designated INSACOG laboratory network, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote in a letter to his civil aviation ministry counterpart Rajiv Bansal.
After submitting samples for random testing, travellers will be allowed to leave the airport.
A copy of the positive report shall be shared with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme at shoc.idsp@ncdc.gov.in by the concerned testing laboratory (besides sharing with the APHOS) to be in turn shared with concerned state or Union Territory for further follow-up action, Bhushan said.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is studying sewage sample from seven sites in Delhi to check for coronavirus variants.
Officials at the Covid-19 review meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday further said that these seven sites are: Batla House, Swan Cinema, Shahdara, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Nangloi and Bhalswa Lake.
In the meeting, CM Arvind Kejriwal said his government is fully geared up to tackle any eventuality. He added that the dominant sub-variant in Delhi is XBB which has been detected in 92 per cent of the samples till now.
At the moment, 2,500 tests are being conducted and these can be increased to one lakh if there is a surge in cases, said Kejriwal.