PM Modi Holds Review Meeting Over Omicron, Advises States And UTs To Be On Alert

On the 23rd of December, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, held a high level review meeting regarding the Wuhan virus situation and rising cases of Omicron, the new variant of COVID-19.

Amongst those who attended the meeting were Mr. K. Vijay Raghavan, the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Scientific Advisor, Mr. Balram Bhargava, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR,) Members (Health) in Niti Aayog, Dr. R.S. Sharma, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Health Authority and Secretaries in the departments of Home, Health and Family Welfare, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, AYUSH and Urban Development. 

During the meeting, Mr. Narendra Modi highlighted the need for strict surveillance, pandemic prevention strategies and vaccination drive boost.  Notably, the Omicron variant is at least thrice more transmissible than its Delta variant.  Therefore the Central Government asked states and union territories (UTs) to “activate” war rooms and keep analysing even small trends at village, district and city level. 

In addition, the Central Government advised states/UTs to be vigilant and monitor case positivity, doubling rate and clusters of new cases across districts.  The Government of India said, “Observe all precautions; don’t let your guard down.”

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released a statement after the meeting, which read, “The fight against the pandemic is not over, he (the Prime Minister) said, and the need for continued adherence to Covid safe behaviour is of paramount importance even today.”

Meanwhile, as of now India has reported over 300 cases of Omicron, with the highest in Delhi, followed by Maharashtra.  In the past 24 hours, over 50 cases of the new variant have been reported, raising alarming situations amid the festive season of Christmas and New Year’s. 

Many states and UTs prohibited public gatherings and imposed curfews to avoid clusters of people at public places for Christmas and New Year’s celebration. 

Stay tuned for further updates.

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