Omicron scare: States told to upscale testing; MHA to review overseas travel

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 28

As Omicron spread across Europe on Sunday with the UK, Germany, Italy and Belgium reporting cases, India ordered enhanced surveillance to detect the variant among incoming international passengers, besides asking all states to enhance testing and dispatch samples for genome sequencing.

Edit: Omicron shadow on travel

At a meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, it was decided to review the move to resume regular international flights beginning December 15.

AIIMS: omicron may bypass vax I more studies needed: WHO

Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS-New Delhi, flagged the vaccine escape potential of Omicron, citing 30 mutations in the spike protein region.

But the WHO was of the opinion that more studies were needed to determine the impact of mutations on virus transmissibility and its effectiveness against vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. TNS

Flyers from ‘at risk’ nations to be tested

• Passengers from UK, S Africa, Brazil, B’desh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, NZ, Zimbabwe, S’pore, HK, Israel to undergo testing
• If tested +ve, their samples will be sent for genome testing
• Seven-day home quarantine for those testing negative
• Union Home Secy chairs meeting, will review the decision to resume regular international flights beginning December 15

The government also issued fresh guidelines stating passengers from “at risk” countries would have to subject themselves to post arrival testing and additional protocols.

In a letter to chief secretaries and principal secretaries of states/UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said it was essential that the disease surveillance network was geared up for rigorous follow-up of travellers from all countries, mainly the ones designated “at risk”. The ministry asked the states to strictly ensure testing of foreigners from such nations upon arrival and send all positive samples for genome sequencing.

With the majority of states, including Punjab, falling behind in daily testing, the government has reminded them to step up efforts. “Ample testing infrastructure needs to be operationalised to tackle any surge due to the mutated virus. It has been observed that the overall testing and the proportion of the RT-PCR tests have declined in some states,” said Bhushan after he wrote to 13 states, including Punjab, over drastic fall in test rates.

Punjab reported 24,300 average daily tests in the week ending November 22, a three-fold reduction from 71,257 average daily tests in the week between May 17 and 23. The Centre asked the states to monitor hotspots closely, ensure infrastructure upgrade, prompt dispatch of samples for genome studies and regular stress on physical measures. The ministry has mentioned the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel “at risk” countries.  

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