BF.7 Variant In Odisha: AIIMS-Bhubaneswar ED For COVID Appropriate Behaviour

Bhubaneswar: Amid a surge of coronavirus cases in many countries and detection of China variant BF.7 in Odisha, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar Ashutosh Biswas on Thursday said people must remain careful and follow COVID appropriate behaviour immediately.

Expressing the hope that vaccines and herd immunity will be able to give some protection, Biswas told reporters that people must strictly follow social distancing, wear mark in public places and maintain hygiene.

After a brief lull, there has been a sudden surge of COVID cases in different countries, he said, adding that there has always been a threat from China and people in India should remain vigilant.

There have been different waves and now a fresh wave of COVID spread has emerged which should be taken seriously and all precautions must be adopted to contain its spread, Biswas said.

Regarding the new variant, Biswas said, “We will have to observe as to how virulent it is. All variants. mutations .. are not virulent.  We all will be watchful.”

With Odisha having reported the BF.7 variant of Omicron, believed to be driving the recent surge of cases in China, the state government will be holding a crucial meeting on COVID management at the Lok Seva Bhawan on Friday.