The government of India has appealed to the states of this country to be alert for the possible appearance of new variants of the coronavirus, citing an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in China and in other regions of the world, Reuters and Agerpres reported. on Wednesday.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandavia held a meeting on the subject with senior government officials on Wednesday.
Everyone present at this gathering wore protective masks, a measure that has not been mandatory in most regions of the country for several months.
China has seen a sharp rise in infections since the lifting of strict COVID-19 restrictions, while data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows an increase in cases in countries such as Japan, South Korea and the USA.
“Given the sudden increase in cases in Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is very important to prepare whole-genome sequencing from samples of positive cases,” India’s federal health minister Rajesh Bhushan said on Tuesday. , in an official letter.
“Such training will allow timely detection of the latest options, if any,” the official said.
India is concerned about the rise of the coronavirus infection
The government has asked all states to ensure that samples taken from positive cases are sent to 54 nationally designated genomic sequencing laboratories.
Some opposition leaders and Twitter users in India have called for the suspension of flights to and from China. A government source, who was not authorized to speak to the press and therefore did not want to identify him, said there was no such intention, according to Reuters.
Mandaviya also demanded that participants in a march in India organized by the main opposition party, the Congress, ensure they are vaccinated and follow safety measures, such as wearing protective masks.
India is the country with the second highest number of reported cases of COVID-19 after the US (over 44 million). However, the number of newly confirmed cases has fallen sharply, with around 1,200 cases being reported each week in recent months.
Source: Hot News
Jason Root is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and informative writing on healthcare topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Reel, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the healthcare industry. With a passion for healthcare and an analytical mind, Jason’s writing provides readers with a unique perspective on healthcare.