Omicron BF.7 Highlights: PM Modi holds review meeting, new travel guidelines issued

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PM reviews Covid situation; cautions against complacency, directs officials to strengthen surveillance measures

Amid a spurt in Covid cases in some parts of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cautioned against complacency and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports. His assertion came during a high-level meeting, which he chaired to assess the COVID-19 situation in the country, preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign and the emergence of new variants and their public health implications.

An advisory will be issued making masks mandatory at indoor, closed & air-conditioned places. Union government guidelines will be followed for random testing & screening passengers arriving from abroad at international airports:K Sudhakar, Health Minister of Karnataka

During the high-level meeting on Covid19, PM Modi was informed that there is adequate availability with regard to medicines, vaccines and hospital beds. He advised to regularly monitor the availability and prices of essential medicines: PMO

PM Modi advised States to audit Covid specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources: Prime Minister's Office

PM Narendra Modi, in a high-level meeting on Covid19, urges wearing masks in crowded public places, ramping up testing and also genomic sequencing; 'Precaution dose' to be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups

Cong will follow COVID guidelines, but Bharat Jodo Yatra will not be stopped: Khurshid

The Congress will follow all COVID-related guidelines, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra will not be stopped, senior party leader Salman Khurshid said on Thursday. His statement came after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asking them to consider suspending the march if COVID-19 protocols cannot be followed.

Amid surge in China and BF.7 sub-variant scare, Gujarat minister says situation under control in state

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Thursday said the COVID-19 situation in the state was under control and there was no active case of the BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron, which is believed to be driving the surge in cases in China. At least three persons in the state were found infected with this sub-variant in the recent past but they have recovered in home isolation, Patel, who is also the spokesperson of the state government, told reporters in Gandhinagar after a cabinet meeting.

Karnataka makes wearing of face masks mandatory in indoor locations

The Karnataka government on Thursday decided to conduct mandatory testing of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in the state amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world, including China. The government also decided to make face masks mandatory in closed spaces and airconditioned rooms. The two per cent random testing of international passengers arriving in the state will continue until revised directions from the Centre, state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said.

No need to worry for now; if at all Covid spreads again, we are fully prepared to deal with it, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

No case of Omicron sub-variant BF.7 found in Delhi so far, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Can test 1 lakh people for Covid daily; have 8000 beds ready and can increase it to 36000 if needed: Delhi CM after meeting on pandemic. 

XBB variant of Covid accounts for 92% of positive cases; BF.7 not detected even in sewage samples taken from 7 places in Delhi: CM Kejriwal

'Andhra Pradesh prepared to handle if any surge in Covid cases'

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday said it is ready to handle any eventuality in view of the sudden spurt of Covid cases in certain countries, as the State has sufficient manpower, beds, drugs and oxygen. An official release said during the last 50 days, over 30,000 samples were tested resulting in 130 positive cases while there are some cases of a new sub- variant of omicron – XBB - which has similar features of omicron.