The Union government on Thursday advised states and Union Territories to take note of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus and asked them t...
The Union government on Thursday advised states and Union Territories to take note of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus and asked them to ensure rigorous screening of international travellers, ANI reported.
In a letter to all states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the National Centre for Disease Control has received information about B.1.1.529 variant of the coronavirus. Three cases of the variant have so far been reported in Botswana, six cases in South Africa and one case in Hong Kong, the letter stated.
“This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel,” Bhushan said in the letter.
"Imperative that all int'l travellers travelling from & transiting through these nations & incl other 'at risk' nations indicated in revised guidelines for int'l arrivals are subjected to rigorous screening &testing. Their contacts must also be tracked & tested," reads the letter
— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2021
The health secretary also noted that all three countries where the mutant strain has been detected are in the government’s “at risk” category in terms of international travel. His letter stated that travellers to...
