Omicron variant: PM Modi asks officials to review plans for easing of international travel restrictions

Amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus detected in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a meeting and reviewed the situation relating to COVID-19 and the ongoing vaccination drive in the country.

The prime minister was briefed about the new ‘Omicron’ variant of the coronavirus, along with its characteristics and the impact seen in various countries. 

Giving details of the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office informed that PM Modi said that in light of the new threat, people need to be more cautious and need to take proper precautions like masking and social distancing. He also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence.

PM further highlighted the need for monitoring all international arrivals, their testing as per guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified ‘at risk’. 

PM was given an overview of the sequencing efforts in the country and the variants circulating in the country. PM directed that genome sequencing samples be collected from international travellers and community as per norms, tested through the network of labs already established under INSACOG and early warning signal identified for Covid-19 management, according to the PMO

The prime minister reviewed the public health preparedness and vaccination-related situation for Covid-19.

The prime minister stressed the need to increase the second dose coverage of the COVID vaccination programme.

He sad that states should be sensitised on the need to ensure that all those who have got the first dose are given the second dose timely.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to PM, PK Mishra, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul were among the attendees.

Meanwhile, the country has reported as many as 8,318 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said today. The death toll due to the pandemic has reached 4,67,933 as 465 people succumbed to the deadly virus during the same period, it added.