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Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a review meeting with state and union territory authorities on Tuesday that the omicron strain of coronavirus can be discovered using RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests.
The government also recommended states and union territories increase testing for early detection of positive cases and to effectively restrict the spread of the B.1.1.529 coronavirus, which has sparked widespread alarm.
States have also been encouraged to hold one or more meetings on Tuesday with health officials, airport health organizations, immigration bureaus, and other relevant agencies to ensure a smooth implementation of the Union health ministry’s amended travel recommendations, which go into effect at midnight.
Officials familiar with the meeting told news agency PTI that Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia INSACOG is closely monitoring the situation and expediting the results of genomic analysis of positive samples of international travelers.
Meanwhile, the Union ministry of home affairs extended the guidelines related to containment measures till December 31 in view of the new outbreak around the world. The order comes as Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya reiterated in Parliament on Tuesday there are no cases of omicron variant in India so far.
The Center has already issued strict restrictions for those traveling from or transiting through ‘at-risk nations, as well as a series of directives to states to increase testing, monitoring, and healthcare facilities. It will also consider whether foreign flights should be resumed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified omicron as a “variant of concern” with a “very high” risk of transmission. On November 11, 2021, the strain was discovered in Botswana, and on November 14, it was discovered in South Africa.