Four cases of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain that is driving China’s current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India so far since October this year even as the Centre on Wednesday called for strengthening the surveillance and implementation of Covid norms, including wearing masks in crowded areas and taking the booster dose to contain the disease.
Though there has been no change in international travel norms as of now, random genome sampling of travellers returning from foreign shores has been initiated at the airports across the States, many of which have already started pulling up the socks to check the virus spread.
“Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told reporters after holding a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in India and preparedness of the public health system for surveillance, containment and management of the virus.
The meeting was held in the wake of the recent spike in cases of Covid-19 in some countries such as Japan, South Korea, the USA, France and particularly China, where the virus has spread like wildfire.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), BF.7 is a shorter term for BA.5.2.1.7 and is the fastest spreading Covid virus.
Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and senior officials and public health experts were among those present in the meeting.
An official from the Ministry said the Union Health Minister was briefed on the global Covid-19 situation and the domestic scenario. India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with 137 cases and 3 fatalities reported till Wednesday morning.
However, a consistent rise in global daily average cases has been reported since the last 6 weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in the week ending December 19, 2022. The BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of Covid infections in China.
A section of medicos like Dr Randeep Guleria, former Director of AIIMS Delhi and Chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine and Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and Director at Medanta’s MedEdu has sounded alarm saying that viral infections tend to rise in the winter season and that people need to take the booster dose.
Earlier in the day, Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari sought a ban on flights to and from China and strict Covid-19 restrictions in India. Tewari tweeted, “Given the alarming Covid-19 situation in China, the Government must suspend all flights to and from China ASAP. Given the spike in the US, Japan, and South Korea and the possibility of a new lethal variant emerging India should consider reintroducing Covid-19 protocols.”
In the meantime, the Gujarat Health Department has issued a statement that the two patients infected with BF.7 & BF 12 variants of Omicron reported in July-October-November-2022 have been fully recovered after they were treated in home isolation.
Underlining the challenge posed by the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in some countries across the world such as China, Japan, South Korea, France and United States, Mandaviya noted the importance of being prepared and remaining alert against new and emerging strains of Covid-19, especially in view of the upcoming festive season.
Mandaviya also directed for strengthening the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country. “This would facilitate the undertaking of appropriate public health measures. States/UTs have been requested to send samples of all Covid-19 positive cases to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) on a daily basis, for sequencing, to track new variants, if any,” the official said.
According to reports, while Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak has directed increasing vigilance at airports and testing of people returning from infected countries, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself is monitoring the preparedness.
Pathak said gene sequencing of Covid suspects and positive samples needs to be amped up to detect the new variant more accurately. He said airport authorities also need to identify passengers showing symptoms including cold and fever
The Ministry has already issued “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of Covid-19” in June 2022 which calls for early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
