Notice On Genome Sequencing To States & UTs; Health Min To Review COVID Situation Today

New Delhi: Amid a fresh spurt in COVID-19 cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China, and the US, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the pandemic situation in India on Wednesday.

The secretaries of health, Ayush, department of pharmaceuticals and department of biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog VK Paul and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman NL Arora and other senior officials will attend the meeting.

In a letter to states and Union territories on Tuesday, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures.

He highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

Public health challenges of COVID-19 still persist around the world with around 35 lakh cases being reported weekly, Bhushan said.

“All states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Laboratories that are mapped to states and UTs,” he added.