Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.27: In light of global concern over the new coronavirus type – B.1.1.529, or Omicron – that was initially found in South Africa earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered officials to reassess plans to remove restrictions on overseas travel on Saturday.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of closely monitoring all overseas arrivals and conducting Covid testing in accordance with current norms, with a particular focus on ‘at risk’ countries.
PM Modi also emphasised the necessity of being proactive in attempts to contain the virus, as well as keeping careful and adhering to all Covid safety rules, like as wearing face masks in public, washing hands regularly, and maintaining social distance.
The PM convened a meeting with senior officials today, including the Cabinet Secretary, the Health Secretary, and the head of India’s Covid task group, to assess the country’s condition.
The meeting was convened in response to concerns about the B.1.1.529 strain, which has been identified as having “an unacceptably high number of mutations” that could make it more resistant to immunizations, enhance transmissibility, and cause more severe symptoms.
The version, which was first discovered in South Africa this week and has since been reported from Botswana, Hong Kong, Israel, and Belgium, is thought to have 50 mutations, with over 30 in the spike protein and ten in the receptor binding domain.
The request for a reconsideration of international travel restrictions comes less than a day after the administration announced that scheduled international passenger flights might resume as early as December 15.
Scheduled international passenger flights to and from India might resume, according to the government, but only for countries not designated ‘at danger’ by the Ministry of Health.
As of Thursday night, South Africa, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong were on the ‘at risk’ list, which means that only 75% of scheduled passenger flights will be allowed until further notice.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Chief Minister, had called on the Prime Minister earlier in the day, to suspend all flights from nations where Omicron Covid instances have been reported.
