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NATION DECEMBER 30, 2022 | The Indian Eye 8

Covid alert, again: India prepares for a

wave as virus wreaks havoc in China

The government has started random RT-PCR sampling among the passengers arriving at all
international airports amid the surge of Coronavirus infection

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Bengaluru/Lucknow
rime Minister Narendra Modi
chaired a high-level meet-
Ping on Thursday to assess the
COVID-19 situation in the country
and cautioned against complacen-
cy while laying stress on testing and
strengthening the surveillance mea-
sures, specially at international air-
ports.
He emphasized COVID-appro-
priate behavior at all times, espe-
cially in view of the upcoming festive
season, including wearing masks in
crowded public places. Amid con-
cerns due to rise in cases in some
countries, Health Minister Mansukh
Mandaviya briefed Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha about the measures be-
ing taken by the government to meet
the possible challenges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs high level meeting to review status and preparedness of public health response
to Covid-19, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)
He said the government has
started random RT-PCR sam- ment in the Lok Sabha while advising COVID situation and take stock of Yogi Adityanath reviewed the COVID

pling among the passengers ar- the States to make sure that people the government’s preparedness. situation in the state. Kerala Health
wear masks, use sanitizers and main- Ministry of External Affairs Minister Veena George said that a
riving at international airports tain social distancing even during (MEA) said that India is keeping an general alert has been issued in the
in the country amid the recent the festive and the New Year season. eye on the Covid situation in China. state due to the increasing number of
He also encouraged the states to “We are keeping an eye on the COVID-19 cases in some countries.
surge of Coronavirus infection increase awareness towards precau- Covid situation in China. We have She said there is no cause for
in countries such as China, Ja- tionary doses against Coronavirus. always helped other countries as the concern in the state and urged peo-
“We are keeping an eye on the pharmacy of the world,” said MEA ple to be cautious and take precau-
pan, South Korea, France, and global Covid situation and are taking Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tionary measures. Districts have
the United States. steps accordingly. The States are ad- during a weekly press briefing. been asked to increase surveillance,
vised to increase genome-sequencing Apart from Delhi, Tamil Nadu, she said. “At present we have 6,000
to timely identify the new variant of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Ut- reserve oxygen cylinders and 15 ox-
Union Health Minister Man-
sukh Mandaviya on Thursday said Covid-19,” Mandaviya added. tarakhand and Punjab also held a ygen tankers as well as a capacity to
store 928 metric tonnes of oxygen.
COVID review meeting.
He further said that the health
that the government has started ran- department has been proactive in Karnataka Government, after a In Delhi, almost 100 percent people
dom RT-PCR sampling among the managing the Covid pandemic. The meeting on Thursday, said it has de- have got the first and second dose,
passengers arriving at international Centre has also provided financial as- cided to make face masks mandatory but only 24 percent people have got
airports in the country amid the re- sistance to States in the fight against in closed spaces, even those that are their precaution dose,” she added.
cent surge of Coronavirus infection the pandemic, he added. not air-conditioned. The Indian Medical Associ-
in various countries including China, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep “An advisory will be issued mak- ation (IMA) issued an advisory
Japan, South Korea, France, and the Dhankar and Lok Sabha Speak- ing masks mandatory at indoor, and appealed the public to follow
United States. er Om Birla also referred to the closed and air-conditioned places. COVID-appropriate behavior with
“We have also started the random
RT-PCR sampling among passengers COVID-19 situation in some coun- Union government guidelines will immediate effect.
In its advisory, the IMA listed
be followed for random testing and
tries and urged members to wear
arriving at International airports in masks. The BF.7 Omicron variant is screening passengers arriving from out necessary steps including wearing
the country. We are committed to driving cases in China. abroad at international airports,” face masks in all public places, main-
tackling the pandemic and are taking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Karnataka Health Minister K Sud- taining social distancing and washing
appropriate steps,” Health Minister Kejriwal chaired a high-level review hakar said. hands regularly with soap and water
Mansukh Mandaviya said in his state-
meeting on Thursday to assess the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister or sanitizers.

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