Covid-19: PM Modi holds meeting with top officials and ministers; Centre may ask states to stress on masks and social distancing

Four cases of BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron, which is responsible for the huge Covid-19 surge in China, have been found in the Indian states of Gujarat and Odisha. They were treated in home isolation and have fully recovered now.

According to reports, there are 10 Covid variants in the country at present, the latest being BF.7.

Media reports said that the Centre is likely to ask states to stress on masks and social distancing and stay away from crowds during the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting on Covid on Wednesday.

After the meeting, the Centre advised using masks and Covid-appropriate behaviour but there is no protocol in place for now. There is no cause for panic, says the government, but people should mask up in crowded areas.

On Thursday, Mandaviya said in the Parliament that random sampling for the Covid test has already started for incoming international passengers, the government told parliament on Thursday.

At least 2 percent of the international travellers arriving in India will have to give samples and after which they will be allowed to leave. RT-PCR tests will be conducted on the samples.

The Indian government has already cautioned all states to track coronavirus variants through the INSACOG network. The Health Ministry has written to all states to increase genome sequencing of positive cases.