- Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya reviews COVID-19 situation and preparedness
- States/UTs advised to send samples of all positive cases to labs to track new variants like BF.7 which is behind wider surge in China
IndiGlobal Bureau
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare today chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in India and preparedness of public health system for surveillance, containment and management of COVID-19 in view of the recent spike in positive cases in some countries with a new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of COVID infections.
The Union Health Minister was briefed on the global COVID19 situation and the domestic scenario. Underlining the challenge posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in some countries across the world such as China, Japan, South Korea, France and United States, Union Health Minister noted the importance of being prepared and remaining alert against new and emerging strains of COVID-19, especially in view of the upcoming festive season. Underlying and reiterating that pandemic is not over yet, he directed the officials to be fully geared up and strengthen surveillance. He urged people to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour and get vaccinated against COVID.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya directed for strengthening the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country. This would facilitate undertaking of appropriate public health measures. States/UTs have been requested to send samples of all COVID-19 positive cases to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) on a daily basis, for sequencing, to track new variants, if any.
In a presentation, the Union Health Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 158 in the week ending 19 th Dec, 2022. However, a consistent rise in global daily average cases has been reported since last 6 weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in week ending 19 th Dec, 2022.
Union Health Ministry has already issued “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID-19” in June 2022 which calls for early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Union Health Minister directed officials for ensuring effective implementation of the same.
Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry, Sh. Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, MoHFW, Dr N K Arora, Chairman of the COVID Working Group, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) among others were present in the meeting.
Screening of international travellers: Health Minister
Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that they have started random screenings of international travellers coming from abroad, although there are no direct flights between India and China at present. He said that the testing numbers would be increased if need be assessing the situation in the coming days.
Further, the minister said that hospitals in India are fully geared up with adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen. He pointed that India, not only took care of its people but even supplied medicines to nearly 150 countries during pandemic without hiking prices drawing applause from across the world.
