China is struggling with Covid, alert India ramps up precautions

China and some other countries are seeing a huge surge in Covid-19 cases, mainly due to the new sub-variant of Omicron, BF.7. India, which has seen the worst of Covid in 2020 and 2021, doesn't want to be complacent this time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a strict vigil and directed that the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports, be strengthened.

BF.7 cases in India: India has so far reported four cases of BF.7 since July. These cases were confirmed by official sources in the health ministry on Wednesday (December 21). While three have been detected in Gujarat, one case has been traced to Odisha.

Guidelines for international arrivals: As most cases of BF.7 are being reported in China, it is important to keep an eye on international arrivals, especially from China. These guidelines issued by the government will come into effect from December 24:

• All travellers should be fully vaccinated as per the approved vaccination against Covid in their country.
• Preferable use of masks and following physical distancing.
• Any passenger having symptoms of Covid during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol.
• Passengers with symptoms will be shifted to an isolation facility for follow-up treatment.
• On arrival, thermal screening should be done for all the passengers.
• 2% of the total passengers on a flight will undergo random testing at the airport upon arrival.

PM cautions against complacency: PM Modi on Thursday cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil. He said that Covid is not over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports.

• PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid situation in the country, the preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign in the country.

PM @narendramodi chairs high-level meeting to review #COVID19 situation.

Home Minister @AmitShah, Health Minister @mansukhmandviya, and Civil Aviation Minister @JM_Scindia also attend the virtual meet, along with the officials of respective Ministries.@MoHFW_INDIA @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/A3YnjM59MO

— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) December 22, 2022

Maharashtra to follow 5-point programme: Maharashtra's health minister Tanaji Sawant reiterated a five-point programme - test, track, treat, vaccinate and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour - to keep the Covid situation under control in the state.

• "Mask is not mandatory...Instructions have been given to all local authorities to conduct review meetings," he said.

We will reiterate 5 point programme (test, track, treat, vaccinate & ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour), random thermal screening of 2% of passengers at the airport: Maharashtra HM Tanaji Sawant

(File Picture) pic.twitter.com/X19SIVbbzZ

— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2022

Karnataka govt issues advisory: The state government has strongly advised people to wear face masks, particularly the elderly and those with comorbidities in all indoor areas and closed places like pubs, bars & restaurants, cinema halls, buses etc.

• All eligible are advised to take up the precautionary dose of vaccination at the earliest to ensure face masking for indoor events and ensure maintenance of the basic social distancing norms in such gatherings.

Hospitals in UP told to be ready: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued instructions to all the hospitals and medical colleges across the state to be ready to tackle the Covid situation.

• The CM asked the King George's Medical University in Lucknow and the Government Institute of Medical Sciences in Noida to be ready for genome sequencing.
• Instructions have been issued to make separate wards for the treatment of Covid patients and hospitals have been asked to fill the vacant posts of healthcare workers.

Screening of tourists: Health authorities have started screening foreign visitors at the Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra in wake of the new Covid scare.
The Uttar Pradesh health department's drive is part of its efforts to contain the new BF.7 sub-variant.

Meeting of health ministers: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with the health ministers of states and Union territories on Friday (December 23). The virtual meeting is scheduled to be held around 3 pm.

IMA advises avoiding public gatherings, and international travel: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has advised people to avoid public gatherings such as wedding ceremonies, and political or social meetings as well as international travel.

• In an advisory issued on Thursday, the IMA also appealed to people to go for vaccination against the viral disease, and taking the precautionary dose, and following Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Covid cases in India:  India reported 163 new Covid cases and 9 deaths on Friday (December 23), while the active cases declined to 3,380, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

• The Covid case tally since 2020 is at 4.46 crore and the death toll stands at 5,30,690.
• The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent. A decrease of 22 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours.