Government Calls For Aggressive Genome Sequencing As Covid Cases Spike In Asia, Europe

During the meeting, Mansukh Mandaviya also reviewed the COVID-19 vaccination program and the resumption of international passenger flights from March 27.

Covid testing at railway station (AFP photo)

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level meeting on Wednesday amid rising cases of coronavirus in Southeast Asia and European countries. Dr. VK Paul of NITI Aayog, Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS and Health Secretary were also present in the meeting.

News agency PTI quoted sources as saying that Mansukh Mandaviya instructed to maintain vigilance, aggressive genome sequencing, and intensive surveillance in the meeting. 

"Given the rising cases in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and some European countries, a high-level meeting was held by the Union health minister with senior government officials and experts.

"The minister has directed aggressive genomic sequencing, heightened surveillance and a high level of alertness," an official source said.

During the meeting, Mansukh Mandaviya also reviewed the COVID-19 vaccination program and the resumption of international passenger flights from March 27. In view of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and some European countries, the Union Health Minister held this meeting.

During the meeting, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also reviewed the COVID19 vaccination program and resumption of international passenger flights from March 27: Sources

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2022

Senior government officials including Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Biotechnology Department Secretary Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Pharmaceutical Department Secretary S Aparna, NITI Aayog Member (Health) VK Paul, ICMR Director-General Dr. Balram Bhargava and AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria attended the meeting. Dr. NK Arora, President, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) COVID-19 Working Group also participated.

According to the data released by the Ministry of Health, 2,876 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours and 98 people lost their lives. Now the number of infected in the country has increased to 4,29,98,938 and the number of people who lost their lives has reached 5,16,072. There are currently 32,811 active patients in the country. During the last 24 hours, there was a decrease in the number of active patients by 1,106. The recovery rate of patients has also increased to 98.72 percent. According to the data, so far a total of 4,24,50,055 people have defeated the infection in the country.