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Coronavirus Highlights: Union min Mandaviya holds Covid-19 review meeting with state health ministers
Coronavirus news updates Highlights, December 23, 2022: A renewed attention has fallen on Covid-19 in India with focus on masks, genome sequencing and random testing at airports amid a deadly surge in case count in neighbouring China.
India has put the focus back on Covid-19 as neighbouring China witnesses a fresh surge in infection rate, which is one of the worst outbreaks in the nation in the last two years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level review meeting on Thursday where he reiterated that the pandemic is “not over yet”, while directing officials to augment the current surveillance measures, especially at international airports. He asked for Covid-19 testing and genome sequencing to be ramped up, and also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour at all times, especially as the holiday season is near....Read More
Meanwhile, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya who also held a review meeting with officials and public health experts on Wednesday, gave a statement in Parliament during the ongoing winter session, in which he said the central government is constantly keeping a “close eye” on new Covid-19 variants and random testing of foreign arrivals are also happening at airports.
The current spike in Covid-19 cases in China is happening due to BF.7 variant, which is not a new emergence but a sublineage of Omicron BA.5. Concerns appeared after four cases of BF.7 were detected in India, but experts said there is no need to panic as these patients contracted the virus in the past and have since recovered.
India's average daily Covid-19 case count has been maintaining a downward trend over the past few weeks, falling to 158 in the week ending December 19.
Focus is on rigorously implementing vaccination drive in Mumbai, says BMC
The Mumbai civic body on Friday said it would focus on rigorously implementing the vaccination drive amid COVID-19 cases spike in some countries, reported PTI.
Aviation ministry issues guidelines for random testing of international passengers
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued issues guidelines for random testing of international arriving passengers.
Ready to deal with COVID-19, says West Bengal to Centre
West Bengal is alert and prepared to tackle any deterioration in the COVID-19 situation, Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya told a national-level meeting on Friday, PTI reported.
Maha sees 23 new COVID-19 cases, zero fatality
Maharashtra on Friday recorded 23 new cases of coronavirus that raised the tally of infections to 81,36,441, an official from the state health department said.
COVID-19: Gujarat to launch special drive for booster dose
The Gujarat government has decided to conduct random tests on 2 per cent of all passengers arriving at international airports in Ahmedabad and Surat and launch a special drive to expand the coverage of booster doses, PTI reported.
Covid19 RT-PCR testing facility to be available free of cost for international passengers selected for random testing: Mumbai airport
Covid19 RT-PCR testing facility will be available free of cost for international passengers who will be randomly selected by the airlines: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
Covid-19 booster dose drive begins in Uttarakhand
A drive to administer booster doses of the anti-covid vaccine began in Uttarakhand on Friday amid a spurt in pandemic cases in several countries including China.
Goa to conduct mock drill to check Covid-19 preparedness on Dec 27
Union health minister holds review meeting with state health ministers
Tripura equipped to deal with Covid surge: CM Manik Saha
"Oxygen, PPE kits and ventilators are available in the hospital. People know what is to be done. Instructions have also been given to the health department for the same," Tripura CM Manik Saha told ANI.
Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine likely to be introduced on Co-WIN today
Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine likely to be introduced on the Co-WIN platform Friday evening, PTI reported citing official sources.
China estimates COVID surge is infecting 37 million people a day, reports Reuters
Nearly 37 million people in China may have been infected with COVID-19 on a single day this week, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources.
Odisha reviews Covid preparedness in state
“The Health Department conducted a review of Covid19 situation and our preparedness. We have issued an advisory that those with symptoms be tested and positive samples subjected to genome sequencing. We've advised people to wear masks,” BK Mohapatra, Director-Health, Odisha to ANI.
600 hospital beds prepared for isolation amid Covid scare, says Pune official
“Centre has directed that Covid19 positive samples should be sent for genome sequencing. Yesterday we've started 2% random sampling of international passengers at Pune International airport. We've 600 hospital beds for isolation,” said medical officer, health dept, Pune Municipal Corp to the news agency ANI.
Govt examining reintroduction of mandatory ‘air suvidha’ forms for international passengers
The union government is examining the reintroduction of mandatory 'air suvidha' forms with details of RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel or complete vaccination proof for passengers coming from countries reporting high number of Covid cases, reported PTI.
BF.7 and XBB: ‘India doing fine, maks hold little value if…’ says Dr Gagandeep Kang
Virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang on Friday broke down the current Covid situation in India in comparison with China and said India is doing fine and won't require travel restrictions but China will see 'lots and lots of infections', similar to what India witnessed during the second wave of the pandemic in April-May 2021, or in January 2022…read more.
Amid Covid-19 scare, govt's appeal for hygiene measures at schools
Covid positivity rate declining week-by-week: Health ministry
Amid concerns over a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases in China and many other countries, the Union health ministry said on Friday that India's virus positivity rate is dipping week-by-week, ANI reported. "Consistent decline in cases in India is recorded with five states accounting for 78 percent of the daily new cases reported on December 22," the health ministry said, adding that eight states and four UTs currently have zero reported active cases.
Punjab CM to hold a meeting with officials this afternoon
Punjab chief minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann will hold a meeting with health department officials this afternoon to discuss the Covid-19 situation amid surge in cases in China.
Health ministry to issue new advisory before holiday season
Union health ministry to issue a new advisory for Covid-19 in view of New Year and the upcoming holiday season, ANI reported citing sources.
Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine to be included in Covid programme
Bharat Biotech’s nasal Covid vaccine to be included in the national immunisation programme from today onwards. Cowin will be modified as well, and the vaccine will be available in private centres initially as a heterologous booster for adults.
Drills in hospitals across India next week to check Covid preparedness
A mock drill for emergency response to combat with Covid-19 infection spike will be conducted in hospitals across India on November 27, ANI reported. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also visit a government hospital for the drill.
Mandaviya's meeting with all state health ministers to be held at 3pm
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya to meet all of his state counterparts at 3pm to discuss Covid-19 preparedness amid concerns over rising infections in China and several other countries.
Amid holiday rush, Goa CM to hold meeting with officials later today
The Goa government will hold a meeting of various departments on Friday over increasing Covid-19 cases in China and several other countries, and also the possible spike in infections in the coastal state due to Christmas and New Year's tourist rush. “The meeting will take stock of the situation in Goa,” CM Pramod Sawant told news agency PTI.
Mandaviya to hold meeting with state health ministers today
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with state health ministers today on the Covid-19 situation and preparedness, ANI reported.
