Centre to meet with states, UTs today to discuss omicron variant

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan is expected to hold a review meeting with officials from all states and union territories on Tuesday to discuss the omicron variant of coronavirus., sources told Hindustan Times. According to them, the meeting will begin at 10.30 am.

The meeting comes just one day after the Centre announced on Monday that no cases of the omicron variant have been detected in the country at this time, but that two clusters in Maharashtra and Karnataka are being investigated.

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In Maharashtra, a native of the Dombivali area of the Thane district tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from South Africa on November 24. 

On Sunday, an official stated that it was unknown whether the man was carrying the variant. According to the official, he underwent a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. 

According to the Hindustan Times report, the state government of Karnataka has ordered precautionary measures in the bordering towns of Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar, and Mysuru, as chief minister Basavaraj Bommai pointed out that there is a high prevalence of COVID-19 among people coming to Karnataka from Kerala. 

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Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all citizens to be vigilant against the variant on Monday, saying that the government’s top priority is their health.

Ever since the discovery of omicron, which was first observed in South Africa, made headlines around the world last week, countries all across the globe have been on high alert to prevent its spread. 

The World Health Organization (WHO), which had previously classified omicron as a variant of concern, warned on Monday that the variant poses a “very high risk”, adding that it could cause “severe consequences”.  

Vaccinations should be accelerated as soon as possible, according to the WHO, even as scientists race to find evidence to better understand this variant.