Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a meeting yesterday to discuss the COVID situation in India amid the rapid rise in cases in China.
Chaos has engulfed China after the government reversed the strict lockdown guidelines under its zero-COVID policy. Crematoriums in the country are overwhelmed by the large influx of bodies even as the government denies the death tally reaching double digits.
As fear of a repeat of history spreads to neighbouring nations, the health minister held a meeting with representatives of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research and the department of biotechnology.
VK Paul, a member of NITI Aayog who heads the national task force on Covid, has said there is no need to panic, and that adequate tests are being conducted. He advised people to wear masks in crowded areas. Mr Paul said there is no change in the guidelines for international air travel yet.
The government has said samples of all COVID positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of COVID in India.
The country has reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours – taking the total to 5,30,677.