In the wake of the new COVID variant, Omicron, the Centre has asked all states and UTs to focus on intensive containment, active surveillance, enhanced testing, monitoring of hotspots, increased coverage of vaccination and augmentation of health infrastructure.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan while listing a series of measures that states and UTs should undertake reiterated that rigorous surveillance of international passengers should be done. He added that there should be the prompt dispatch of samples for genome sequencing and strict enforcement of COVID-appropriate behaviour to effectively manage this Variant of Concern (VoC).

As a proactive step, the government has already placed nations, where this VoC has been found, in the category of ‘at risk’ countries for additional follow-up measures of international travellers coming into India from these destinations, he said in a letter dated November 27.

“ln view of the possible threat that this VoC can pose to the nation, it is imperative that the intensive containment, active surveillance, increased coverage of vaccination and Covid- appropriate behaviour must be enforced in the field in a very proactive manner to effectively manage this VoC,” Bhushan said.

He said past travel details of passengers coming through international flights should be reviewed and the protocol provided by the ministry should be strictly ensured.

The protocol includes testing of passengers coming from ‘at risk‘ countries and sending all positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG labs in a prompt manner.

Emphasising that ample testing infrastructure needs to be operationalised to tackle any surge due to this mutated virus, Bhushan said it has been observed that the overall testing, as well as the proportion of RT-PCR tests, have declined in some states.

“ln the absence of sufficient testing, it is extremely difficult to determine the true level of infection spread. States must strengthen the testing infrastructure and strictly implement the testing guidelines,” he said.

Bhushan also stressed on continued monitoring of hotspots, the areas where a recent cluster of positive cases have emerged. “ln all such ‘hotspots’, saturation testing and sending of positive samples quickly for genome sequencing to designated INSACOG labs must be ensured in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of lndia, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

States should keep a close check on the emerging trend of cases and the positivity in an area. In case of a hotspot is spotted then that area should be quickly cordoned off, he said.

Bhushan urged the states to optimally utilise the financial support provided by the Government of lndia under ERCP 1 and 2 diligently.

He also urged states and UTs to hold regular press briefings.

“We have seen in the last surges in the country that discourse on Covid is often influenced by misinformation leading to anxiety in the masses. To address this, all states should proactively and regularly address the concerns of community through press briefings and state bulletins providing evidence-based information,” Bhushan said in the letter.

He said it is critical for states and UTs to adhere to the overarching ‘Test-Track-Treat Vaccinate and Covid-appropriate behaviour’ principle to ensure stringent implementation of containment measures as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines.

The new, potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24. It has further been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

It was designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the WHO, which named it Omicron.