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Omicron: No case in India yet but Centre ready with action plan, asks states to be alert
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 12/1/2021 3:45:41 PM
New Delhi, Nov 30 The Centre has extended the nationwide Covid-19 containment measures till December 31, given the emergence of the highly mutant coronavirus variant, Omicron, in some countries and asked states to be vigilant. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also asked states and UTs to strictly adhere to the November 25 advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry, recommending rigorous screening and testing of all international arrivals. Bhalla also said contacts of international travellers must be closely tracked and tested as per the health ministry guidelines, and the samples of travellers turning positive sent to the designated genome sequencing laboratories promptly, as per the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) guidance document. Apart from that, he said that state surveillance officers must also establish close coordination with their designated or tagged genome sequencing laboratories for expediting results of genomic analysis, and the states and UTs should immediately undertake necessary public health measures, in case of the presence of variants of concern. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that India has not reported any case of Omicron, but the government has taken measures to ensure that it does not reach.