Omicron Variant: 18 Passengers Test Positive For Covid-19 Out of 16,000 Tested, Health Minister Informs

As the risk of Omicron variant of Covid-19 is increasing in India, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed Parliament that RTPCR tests of 16,000 passengers from 'at-risk' countries have been conducted so far, of whom 18 have tested positive for Covid-19.

Check the list of 'Countries at-risk' published by the health ministry here.  

He also said that genome sequencing for Omicron detection is underway for such passengers.

Addressing the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, he said the Union government has taken measures to make the country ready for any future challenges and adopted the buffer stock policy to ensure that all states have enough medicines to deal with any further surge in Covid-19 cases.

Read: Will Omicron Be Deadlier Than Delta? What We Know So Far

"A decision on booster dose and jabs for children will be taken on the basis of scientific advice," he said and appealed to opposition parties to trust scientists.

(With PTI Inputs)