New Delhi: The Center on Thursday called on all states and Union territories to conduct rigorous selection and testing of all international travelers arriving from or through South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana, where a new COVID-19 variant of serious public health implications have been reported.
In a letter to additional Secretaries General or Secretaries or Secretaries (Health) of the states and trade union territories, the Union Health Secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, asked them to ensure that samples of travelers who became positive immediately after the designated IGSLS or genome sequencing. laboratories are sent.
It has now been reported by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) that several cases of a COVID-19 variant B.1.1529 was reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6) and Honk Kong (1 case), Bhushan said in the letter.
“This variant reportedly has a significantly high number of mutations, and therefore has serious public health implications for the country, in light of recent relaxed visa restrictions and the opening of international travel.
It is therefore essential that all international travelers traveling to and through these countries (they are part of the ‘dangerous’ country category of international travelers coming to India) and also all other ‘risk countries’ listed in the revised Guidelines for International Arrivals issued by this Ministry, dated 11 November 2021, is subject to strict selection and testing, according to MoHFW guidelines, ”he said.
The contacts of these international travelers should also be carefully tracked and tested according to MoHFW guidelines.
“You are also requested to ensure that samples of travelers who turn positive are sent promptly to the designated IGSLS according to the INSACOG guidance document issued by this Ministry dated 15 July 2021,” the letter reads.
Bhushan said that state overseers should also establish close coordination with their designated / labeled IGSLS to expedite results of genomic analysis so that necessary public health measures can be undertaken by the states and union areas in the event of a variant of concern or variant of interest. was reported by the INSACOG network.
“It is critical for States and UTs to adhere to the overarching Test-Track Treatment Vaccination Principle to ensure strict implementation of restraint measures in accordance with MoHFW guidelines, and to spread VoC / Vols and form groups. to prevent cases, “he said.
The new variant of Covid-19, which is feared to have a large number of peak mutations not seen before, has been detected in South Africa, with authorities there confirming on Thursday 22 positive cases associated with it.
Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, earlier this week posted details of the new variant as B.1.1.529 on his Twitter account, after which scientists weighed in on what is considered a variant of concern. – although it has yet to be formally categorized in the UK.
Also read: New ‘Botswana’ variant is the most mutated version of Covid
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Source: Telangana Today