The high-level review meeting comes against the backdrop of a surge in COVID-19 cases in some countries, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Updated – Fri, 12/23/22 at 09:44 AM
New Delhi: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Federal Minister of Health According to sources, there will be a virtual meeting with the state health ministers at 3pm today on the Covid-19 situation and preparedness.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the status and readiness of public health to deal with COVID-19, stressing the need for enhanced surveillance, with a focus on genome sequencing and increased testing.
The high-level review meeting comes against the backdrop of a surge in COVID-19 cases in some countries, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
PM Modi assessed the COVID-19 situation in the country, the readiness of health infrastructure and logistics, and the status of the country’s vaccination campaign. He also assesses the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and their impact on public health.
Over the past two days, chief ministers from many states across the country have held high-level meetings with senior officials on their states’ Covid19 preparedness.
On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reassured ordinary people about the government’s preparedness and said there was no need to panic as there was not a single case of COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BF.7 in the capital.
The surge in Covid cases in China, Japan, South Korea, France and the US has been alarming. The surge was blamed on a new Omicron subvariant, BF.7, which has also been found in four Indian states, according to India’s health ministry.
Addressing the media after the COVID-19 review meeting, Delhi Chief Minister said, “COVID-19 cases are increasing in China and several other countries. It has the BF.7 variant. We don’t have a single case of this variant in Delhi. So There is no need to worry.” He further stated that the health department is conducting genome sequencing of all positive cases reported in the city.
However, Kejriwal said Delhi was reporting cases of the XBB mutation.
“Even in sewage samples collected and tested from seven different places in Delhi, BR.7 variant was not detected. 92% of reported cases in Delhi were associated with XBB variant or its sub-variant,” he said.
The Delhi government is well prepared for a new wave of COVID-19, the Chief Minister said.
Kejriwal is asking people to take preventive doses of the vaccine because only 24% of Delhiites have been vaccinated so far.
“The first and second doses have been given to almost 100% of beneficiaries. Only 24% have taken the preventive dose. We are asking people to take the preventive dose. During the meeting, we discussed another door-to-door campaign, Give people a preventive dose,” Kejriwal said.
Asked about face masks, he said: “We are waiting for the guidelines from the central government. We will implement when they give the order,” said the Delhi CM.
India has reported four cases of the BF.7 Omicron subvariant in the past six months, which is driving the current surge of infections in China.
According to sources, there are currently 10 different Covid-19 variants in the country, the latest being BF.7
