Days after the Union Health Ministry made it mandatory for foreign arrivals to undergo RT-PCR tests upon their arrival in the country, a total of 124 international passengers have been found to be Covid-19 positive, as per the Union Health Ministry data.
Of the 124 positive samples, genome sequencing results of 40 were received in which the XBB variant, including XBB.1, was found in 14 samples. The data shows that the other XBB variants are XBB.2, XBB.3, XBB.4, XBB.5.
The BF 7.4.1 variant has been found in one sample so far, as per the data. The other variants found in the country include BA.5, BQ 1.1 and BQ1.122, BQ 1. 1.5, CH1.1, CH.1.1.1, BF.7.4.1 and BB3.A. So far, 11 types of variants have been found in India. A total of 19,227 international passengers have been screened across all ports in the country from December 24, 2022 to January 3 this year.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday asked the public not to panic about Covid-19, but be alert and follow the directives issued by the Government from time to time. He further said, “Covid-19 variants will keep coming but the important thing is which variant will react and people should only believe information shared by Government sources to avoid any kind of panic in the country.”