COVID-19 is not over yet, says health minister after review meeting — 'Use masks, take precaution dose'

There is no change with regard to aviation as of now, he said. Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals Managing Director Dr Sangita Reddy cautioned the Centre to act swiftly on our policy regarding air travel to and from China, Mint reported.

After reviewing the current global situation, Paul said. "We discussed the implications it will have on India. Virus has not gone yet. It has been seen that cases are up in China in particular... These variants are dominant there.

"We don't need to panic. We have the capacity and experience to deal with this pandemic. We have to take abundant precautions and foremost is surveillance system. We have to energise the existing surveillance," he added.

India is recording about 1,200 new infections a week. The country's COVID-19 tally climbed to 4,46,76,330 on Wednesday with 131 fresh infections, while the number of active cases came down to 3,408, according to Union health ministry data.

Globally, some 3.5 million cases are being recorded every week, Reuters reported. "There has been a consistent rise in global daily average cases since last six weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in week ending December 19, 2022," the government noted.

Meanwhile, in China, a new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of COVID infections. The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, PTI reported.

States such as Maharashtra, Delhi and Kerala are said to be at higher risk when it comes to COVID-19 spread. In the past as well, these states have been among those reporting highest number of infections.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday the state government will form a committee or a task force in coordination with the Centre to monitor the COVID situation in the state.

Maharashtra health secretary Sanjay Khandare to CNBCTV-18 there's no plans of mass testing as of now. "Currently, we’re having around 100 positive cases daily in state. So we’ll go for genome sequencing of all the positive samples (as per Union health department's advisory)," Khandare said.

"Based on the result of genome sequencing and union government's instructions, we will decide Maharashtra's COVID norms," he said. He added, "We will intensity vaccination drive in the state...Our health infrastructure is in place and we will activate all COVID related medical set ups if required."

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said the state "will monitor at the airport and try to send all positive cases to INSACOG to know what kind of strains are being witnessed." He appealed to the people to take booster dose and said, "Indians are safe. Our 100 percent population has taken a double dose of vaccine."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak directed the Chief Minister's Office to be vigilant over the COVID-19 cases.

"Travellers coming from countries from recent COVID affected countries should be tested. Positive samples to be sent for genome sequencing," he said. The Deputy CM also suggested creating a list of international travellers and monitor their health for two weeks. He also directed authorities to stock up on essential medicines and equipment for COVID-19.

Besides this, West Bengal health officials said the state is ready to tackle any fresh contagion wave. Testing and management of COVID-19 is being done regularly in the state to keep a tab on the contagion, said Dr Siddhartha Niyogi, Director of the state’s health services. "Things are under control here but we remain cautious in our outlook," the senior official of the West Bengal health department told PTI.

Earlier on Tuesday, the health ministry had urged all states and Union territories to ramp up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of newer variants.

Mansukh Mandaviya also wrote to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, requesting him and other people joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra to strictly follow COVID-19 rules. In case following rules is not possible, "then keeping in view the Public Health Emergency and to protect the nation from the COVID pandemic, I request you to halt the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the public interest," Mandaviya said in the letter.

In a a tweet, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of Serum Institute of India, assured that people in India must not panic, "given our excellent vaccination coverage and track record". He said, "We must continue to trust and follow the guidelines set by the Government of India."