PM Modi chairs meeting with top officials on COVID-19 situation, vaccination
Highlights
- India has added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional
- The new 'Omicron' variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations
- India on Saturday reported 8,318 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours
Prime Minister on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation relating to Covid-19 and vaccination. PM Modi was also briefed about the new Variant of Concern ‘Omicron’ along with its characteristics, impact in various countries, and implications for India
While chairing the variant, PM said that one needs to be proactive in light of the new variant. "Need to be proactive in light of the new variant. Intensive containment and active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases. People need to more cautious and take proper precautions like masking & social distancing," PM said.
PM asks officials to review plans for easing of international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence.
On vaccination, PM said, "Need to increase the second dose coverage. States should to be sensitised on the need to ensure that all those who have got the first dose are given the second dose timely."
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.
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