New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a review meeting today on the Covid-19 situation in the country, reported news agency ANI. The meeting comes amid the increasing cases of Omicron which had crossed the 200 mark on Tuesday.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has recorded close to 250 Omicron cases so far across 15 states and Union Territories. Delhi has the highest number of cases at 57 and is followed by Maharashtra at 54, and Telangana at 24.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to the states to stay on alert and prepare for a probable Omicron spread. The suggested measures include the imposition of night curfews, activating war rooms, creating containment zones, and reserving beds for Omicron patients.
The advisory also said that the new covid variant Omicron is three times more transmissible than the Delta variant.
The meeting also comes amid the questions of a booster dose in the country. On Wednesday, Dr. VK Paul, Member- Health, Niti Aayog, had said that a decision on the booster dose will be of scientific decision and thinking.
Simultaneously, Dr. SK Sarin of ILBS Delhi had urged for the booster dose for frontline and health workers, and people with comorbidities. “In my opinion, a booster is a must. When you've two doses of any vaccine your protection level, especially after 3 to 6 months, goes down. If you have a third dose or a booster then the chance of having a severe infection, hospitalization reduces,” Dr. Sarin told ANI.
As the Christmas and New Year festivities are near, many states have put restrictions on the gatherings and celebrations to curb the spread of Omicron. The states which have put on restrictions include Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.