COVID was back at the centre of India’s health and political map on December 21 with the government advising people to get vaccinated and mask up, and saying random sample testing will be conducted at airports for passengers arriving from China and other countries.
As a political storm brewed with Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya writing to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to consider suspending the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the party reacting with anger, three cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China’s current surge of COVID cases, were detected.
The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, official sources said, adding that two cases have been reported from Gujarat and one from Odisha.
Mr. Mandaviya chaired a COVID review meeting with experts and senior officials stressing the need for continued surveillance even though there is no overall increase in the COVID caseload as of now.
“COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation,” the Minister said.
He directed that the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track variants through the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network be strengthened.
States/UTs have been requested to send samples of all COVID-19 positive cases to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) on a daily basis, for sequencing, to track new variants, if any, a Health Ministry statement said.
India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 158 in the week ending December 19, 2022, the Minister was briefed in a presentation.
However, a consistent rise in global daily average cases has been reported for the last six weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in the week ending December 19, 2022.
“Random sample testing will be done for international air passengers arriving from various countries including China,” an official source said after the review meeting.
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The Karnataka government will also start screening international passengers at Bengaluru airport in view of the sudden spurt in COVID cases in some parts of the world, State Health Minister K. Sudhakar said.
Other State governments such as West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi also expressed their concern and expressed their readiness to tackle an eventuality of cases going up.
As concern mounted, Mr. Mandaviya wrote to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot citing concerns raised by three BJP MPs from the desert State and urged the Congress leadership to consider suspending their yatra if COVID protocols could not be followed.
He said the three MPs had flagged concerns, requesting him that COVID protocols, including the use of masks and sanitisers, be strictly followed during the march and only those who are vaccinated be allowed to participate. The MPs also requested the Union Minister to ensure that participants are isolated before and after taking part in the march.
Stung to the quick, the Congress accused the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Pointing to the BJP taking out marches in Karnataka and Rajasthan, party leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, said public health is far too serious an issue for party politics.
“Parliament is meeting normally. Masks are no longer compulsory anywhere including on flights. The BJP has taken out yatras in Rajasthan and Karnataka. There has been no advisory from the Centre to States of late except the one issued yesterday on genome sequencing,” Congress general secretary (communications) Mr. Ramesh said in a statement.
Mr. Ramesh also said that in March 2020, the Modi government allegedly delayed imposition of lockdown by at least a week to enable the toppling of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.
“If there is a protocol for gatherings Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by it undoubtedly,” he said.
“I can understand that the BJP is afraid and is in trouble after seeing the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Mr. Ramesh told reporters.
Mr. Khera, who pointed to the lack of restrictions on public transport, also asked the government to announce COVID protocols and said the party would follow them. “We are wondering why a similar letter was not sent to the president of BJP in Rajasthan Satish Punia who is carrying out a Janakrosh Yatra there. We understand there is not much of a response to the Janakrosh Yatra. There are no people there,” he told reporters.
“We also understand there is a huge response across the country to the Bharat Jodo Yatra and there is a lot of crowd here,” he added. The senior Congress leader said the BJP was taking out yet another yatra in Karnataka.
“Has the Health Minister also sent this letter to the Karnataka BJP. We want to know. Today, if you were to travel by air, nobody will ask you to wear a mask or use a sanitiser,” said Mr. Khera. The yatra entered Haryana on Wednesday from Rajasthan on Wednesday morning.
3 cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 detected in India
Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China’s current surge of COVID cases, have been detected in India so far, official sources said.
BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability since it is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and has a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.
According to official sources in New Delhi, Chinese cities are currently hit by the highly transmissible Omicron strain, mostly BF.7 which is the main variant spreading in Beijing and is contributing to a wider surge of COVID infections in that country.
“The BF.7’s high transmissibility in China might be attributed to a low level of immunity in the Chinese population from the previous infection and possibly vaccination too,” an official source said.
BF.7 has already been detected in several other countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France and Denmark.
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During the meeting, attended by experts and senior officials, the Minister was briefed on the global COVID-19 situation and the domestic scenario, including the preparedness of all stakeholders.
Noting that only 27% to 28% of India’s eligible population have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr. V.K. Paul, after the meeting, said people should take the jab and also wear masks in crowded places.
Dr. Paul urged people not to panic and said that there was no change in the guidelines for international air travel so far.
“People should wear masks in crowded areas. Those with comorbidities and old should especially adhere to this,” Dr. Paul said.
The government will again hold a meeting next week to monitor the situation.
Underlining the challenge posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in some countries across the world such as China, Japan, South Korea, France and the United States, Mr. Mandaviya noted the importance of being prepared and remaining alert against new and emerging strains of COVID-19, especially in view of the upcoming festive season.
In a presentation, the Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 158 in the week ending December 19, 2022.
Also read: China limits how it defines COVID-19 deaths in official count
However, a consistent rise in global daily average cases has been reported for the last six weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in the week ending December 19, 2022.
A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant is behind a wider surge of COVID infections in China, the statement said.
The Union Health Ministry has already issued “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID-19” in June 2022 which calls for early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Mr. Mandaviya directed officials to ensure effective implementation of the same.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu are the top five states contributing in terms of new COVID cases even though there is a consistent decline in the overall COVID caseload in the country.
Also read: Facing COVID surge, China expanding hospitals, ICUs
These five States accounted for 84% of the daily new cases reported on December 20, 2022.
During the meeting, it was also highlighted that no severity in cases was being seen so far. Secretary Pharma and Ayush were asked to keep stock of medicines that were used during COVID as a precautionary measure.
Apart from Dr. Paul, the secretaries of health, department of pharmaceuticals, department of biotechnology, Ayush, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman Dr. N.K. Arora were among those who attended the meeting.
In view of the rise in cases in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday urged all states and Union territories to ramp up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples of COVID to keep track of emerging variants.
In a letter to States and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures.
Ensure Covid protocols are followed at night shelters: U.P. Govt directs officials
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Government directed officials to ensure COVID protocols are followed at night shelters for the homeless, a day after the Centre asked States to ramp up genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of newer variants.
According to a statement, the State Government’s guidelines stated that COVID protocol, such as maintaining social distancing, must be adhered to at the night shelters.
Director of Uttar Pradesh Local Bodies Directorate Neha Sharma said directives have been issued to Municipal Commissioners and executive officers on a priority basis.
They have been directed to regularly update details of night shelters on the Google link of the directorate so that monitoring of arrangements at all the night shelters can be done, she said.
The facilities at the night shelters should be of good quality and arrangements for cleanliness, pure drinking water and lighting should be made.
Directives have also been issued for the distribution of blankets among the poor, Ms. Sharma said.
‘West Bengal ready to tackle any deterioration in COVID situation’
West Bengal health officials on December 21 said the State is ready to tackle any fresh contagion wave.
Testing and management of COVID-19 is being done regularly in the state to keep a tab on the contagion, said Dr Siddhartha Niyogi, Director of the state’s health services.
“We are prepared to tackle any situation in the state. Things are under control here but we remain cautious in our outlook,” the senior official of the West Bengal health department told PTI.
On December 20 the State reported 7 new COVID positive case, while the figures for December 17 and 18 were nil and just one for December 19. “We have been conducting COVID-19 tests very regularly. We have a good number of doctors and para-medics, sufficient masks, oxygen supplies and ample number of beds in different hospitals and medical colleges to address the situation if there is a spurt in COVID cases,” the official said.
Bengal, he said, is testing an average of 4,000 samples per day and the recovery rate is 98.98%. “We have combated three COVID waves successfully and are confident of countering any situation”.
Published - December 21, 2022 03:26 pm IST
