Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation related to Covid-19 and related aspects in the country at a high-level meeting this afternoon, said reports. The meeting comes a day after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the situation and asked people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, and getting vaccinated.
Official sources have said random sample testing will be done at airports for international passengers arriving from China and other countries.
However, The Maharashtra health department has asked all the district administrations and municipal corporations to increase COVID-19 tests.
Meanwhile, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday, India recorded 185 new coronavirus infections, while active cases fell to 3,402. The central government had on Tuesday (December 20) urged all states and Union territories to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.
Following reports of a resurgence of Covid-19 cases around the world, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were advised to wear face masks on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen wearing a mask while attending the Upper House in the first half of the day, as were House Speakers and several other MPs.
In Rajya Sabha, Vice-President and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked MPs to practise social distancing and take precautionary measures like the use of sanitisers and booster doses. “I urge all the members to be extra cautious about the surging Covid cases in the world,” Dhankhar said. “It is our ardent duty to set an example before our countrymen.”
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated in a letter to the states and UTs that such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the implementation of necessary public health measures.
Covid cases have increased alarmingly in China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States. The new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 is being blamed for the spike. In India, four cases of Omicron sub-variant driving China surge have been discovered.
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