PM Modi briefed about ‘Omicron’ coronavirus variant
As the meeting was underway, Gujarat Government today mandated RT-PCR testing for travellers landing in the state from Europe, UK, Brazil, South Africa
New Delhi: Following the alert over a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with top government officials on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination on Saturday.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to PM, PK Mishra, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, and NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul attended the meeting to be chaired by PM Modi on COVID-19 situation and vaccination.
According to PMO statement, "Officials briefed PM Modi about the new Variant of Concern ‘Omicron’ along with its characteristics and impact seen in various countries. Its implications for India were also discussed. PM spoke about the need to be proactive in light of the new variant".
Meanwhile. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal urged PM Modi to stop flights from those countries affected by the new variant. He said that with great difficulty, the country has recovered from Corona and we should do everything possible to prevent the new corona variant from entering the country.
As the meeting was underway, Gujarat Government today mandated RT-PCR testing for travellers landing in the state from Europe, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong over the new variant concerns.
Recently, South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has detected a new coronavirus variant. South African Government has urged its citizens to remain vigilant against COVID-19 and play their part in protecting themselves and the broader community by having themselves vaccinated, while scientists investigate a 'newly identified coronavirus variant'.
