Centre On 'Alert Mode' After SARS-CoV-2 RNA Found In Sewage Samples From Delhi, Mumbai

Mandaviya further appealed to the people to wear masks, avoid crowded places and follow Covid appropriate behaviour.  

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said RNA of SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in the sewage samples from Delhi and Mumbai, news agency ANI reported.

According to the report, the health minister said the Centre is working on ‘alert mode’ to control the spread of Covid 19.

He added that they are conducting environmental, sewage and human surveillance to monitor the situation.

Mandaviya further appealed to the people to wear masks, avoid crowded places and follow Covid appropriate behaviour.  

We're working on alert mode to control the spread of Covid19; conducting environmental, sewage & human surveillance. Virus RNA found in sewage samples in Delhi&Mumbai.Urge people to wear masks,avoid crowded places&follow Covid appropriate behaviour: Union Health Min Dr Mandaviya pic.twitter.com/uQgHtKUAva

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2022

Notably, this comes a day after Mandaviya held a meeting with the state health ministers to ascertain the Covid situation.

He asked the states and UTs to follow the 'test, track, treat and vaccinate' strategy and follow Covid appropriate behaviour. 

Mandaviya also asked the states to be alert and said that the Centre and states have to work in a collaborative spirit as was done during the previous Covid waves.   

Keeping in mind the upcoming festive season, the Health Ministry asked the states and UTs to ensure wearing masks, maintaining hand hygiene and physical distancing.

The ministry directed the states to keep a track of influenza and flu-like symptoms for detecting early rise in Covid trends. The Union Health Minister also asked the states to send the positive Covid samples for genome sequencing. The states have also been asked to take stock of the hospital infrastructure and logistical requirements. 

The ministry also said that the Covid vaccine effort has to be stepped up by creating more awareness campaigns.