Centre Alerts States/UTs Over Omicron Threat, Asks For 'Rigorous Screening' Of Int'l Passengers

MHA on Tuesday requested that all States and Union Territories (UTs) conduct a thorough screening of overseas travellers entering India and extend the Covid-19 procedures till December 31.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: In the wake of the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant - 'Omicron', the Centre has asked state governments to take strict measures to ensure that mutant does not reach the country. According to reports, the Health Ministry issued an advisory after looking at developments globally and is keeping a close watch on ports

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday convened a high-level conference with officials from states and union territories to evaluate COVID-19 public health response measures and readiness in the wake of reports of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 in several nations.

Centre Asks States To Scale-Up Testing 

Following the meeting, the Centre asked states and UTs to scale-up testing for early identification of any cases, conduct effective surveillance of foreign travellers, and carefully monitor hotspots, emphasising that the Omicron version of SARS-CoV-2 does not escape RT-PCR and RAT tests.

According to a statement issued by the Union Health Ministry, reiterating that the Union Health Ministry's revised guidelines and international travel advisories have been shared with the states, Union Health Secretary advised states not to relax and to keep a close eye on international passengers entering the country through various airports, ports, and land border crossings.

India has so far not reported any cases of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said at Parliament on Tuesday, referring that the administration has taken precautions to ensure that it does not enter the nation.

After reviewing worldwide trends, the Centre issued an alert and is keeping a careful eye on ports, he said, adding that genomic sequencing of suspicious cases is also being performed. 

MHA Asks For Rigorous Screening Of International Passengers

Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday requested that all States and Union Territories (UTs) conduct a 'rigorous' screening of overseas travellers entering India and extend the Covid-19 procedures till December 31.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Executive Committee, issued an order on November 30 directing all Secretaries of Central Ministries, State Chief Secretaries, and Administrators of UTs to conduct rigorous screening and testing of all international arrivals in accordance with their guidelines issued from time to time.

"The contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines and the samples of travellers turning positive are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) promptly as per the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) Guidance Document," PTI quoted MHA orders in its report.

Home Secretary further directed the States/UTs that State Surveillance Officers must work closely with their designated or tagged IGSLs to expedite genomic analysis results, and they must immediately implement necessary public health measures if the presence of Variants of Concern/Variants of Interest (VOCs/Vols) is reported by the INSACOG network. 

(With inputs from agencies)