BF.7 Covid variant found in India. Here is what the Govt is doing

Masks to be worn in crowded places, random sample testing of international passengers arriving at airports to be done

Amid the massive surge in Covid cases and deaths in China and India too reporting four cases of BF.7 variant of Omicron, which is driving the surge in China, India on Wednesday decided to further strengthen its surveillance. Random sample testing of passengers arriving from China and other countries will be done at all airports. The Covid situation will be reviewed every week.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today held a meeting with top health ministry officials and expert and took stock of the COVID situation in India and also discussed the way forward. The Centre has not yet announced any COVID guideline or protocol but have asked people to wear the mask in crowded places.

“COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation,” said Union Health Minister Mandaviya after the meeting.

Here is what the Government is doing

1. Centre has asked for genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants. Samples of positive cases to be sent to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) daily. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of Covid in India, which is mapped with all states and Union Territories.
2. Random sample testing will be conducted at airports for international passengers arriving from China and other countries.
3. A nationwide network of sentinel facilities to monitor influenza-like-illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) will be set up. The district-level rapid response teams (RRT) will assess the unusual events, and, if required outbreak investigations will be undertaken.
4. Community-based surveillance will be conducted regularly. This will focus on the early detection of unusual events in the community, such as large outbreaks, an unusual presentation of cases, mortality, etc.
5. The Centre said that there is no cause for panic. The government is well prepared to tackle any situation but has urged on everyone to follow COVID protocol again.
6. In a letter to the states and union territories on Tuesday, the union health department had directed them to step up the government’s four-pronged strategy of testing, tracking, treating and following COVID protocol.

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