Amid concerns over Omicron variant, Centre issues fresh guidelines to states, UTs
Amid concerns over new Covid-19 variant Omicron, the Central Government has asked all states and UTs to focus on intensive containment, active surveillance, enhanced testing, monitoring of hotspots, increased coverage of vaccination and augmentation of health infrastructure.
It has also listed a series of measures which states and UTs should undertake. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stressed on rigorous surveillance of international passengers, ensuring prompt dispatch of samples for genome sequencing and strict enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour to effectively manage this 'Variant of Concern' (VoC).
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Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has stressed on rigorous surveillance of international passengers. Photo: Social media[/caption]
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The Central Government has already placed nations, where this VoC has been found, in the category of ‘at risk’ countries for additional follow-up measures of international travellers coming into lndia from these destinations.
“ln view of the possible threat that this VoC Omicron can pose to the nation, it is imperative that the intensive containment, active surveillance, increased coverage of vaccination and Covid- appropriate behaviour must be enforced in the field in a very proactive manner to effectively manage this VoC,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said. The Health Secretary said it was essential that the disease surveillance network in the country was geared up for rigorous follow-up of international travellers from all countries, especially those designated as ‘at risk’. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Govt to review SOP on testing & surveillance of incoming international passengers, especially for those countries identified ‘at risk’ category: Union Home Ministry pic.twitter.com/X5mHStBXcG — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2021