Covid Scare: As China Spike Triggers Concern, India On High Alert, States Rush Into Meetings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting today afternoon to review the coronavirus situation and related aspects in the country.

China's Covid Spike Triggers Global Concern

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New Delhi: The recent spike in Covid-19 infections in China has triggered concern across the world. Following the easing of the strict Covid-19 restrictions in China, the country witnessed a sudden jump in Covid infections, raising fears that the country might see over a million fatalities in the coming months. 

Epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding, in a Twitter thread, has warned of “thermonuclear bad” situation in China. He added that hospitals in China are completely overwhelmed ever since restrictions dropped and added that "over 60 per cent of China's and 10 per cent of the Earth's population will likely be infected over the next 90 days. Deaths likely in the millions- plural."

Here's what is happening in India -

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting today afternoon to review the coronavirus situation and related aspects in the country, news agency ANI reported.
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will convene an emergency meeting today amid a sudden spurt in Covid cases in several countries. "Delhi government is alert. CM Kejriwal has called an emergency meeting regarding coronavirus tomorrow," an official said on Wednesday.
• India has restarted random sampling of international passengers for Covid-19 at airports in the country, reported ANI quoting Health Ministry sources.
• UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to hold a review meeting with Team-9 members on the Covid situation in the state.
• Maharashtra has started thermal testing of all passengers coming from abroad
• Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all instructions to deal with covid situation have been issued to concerned authorities.
• Chandigarh administration has ordered covid tests for patients coming for preventive treatment and surgery
• Maharashtra said that all positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing in labs
• Four cases of Omicron BF.7 strain, that is driving the current wave of Covid infections in China, have been detected in India so far. 
• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting with high officials and top experts on Wednesday.
• He tweeted after the review meeting, "In view of the rising cases of #Covid19 in some countries, reviewed the situation with experts and officials today. COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation."