India is facing a new wave of coronavirus infections as the Omicron variant spreads across the world. The country, which has recorded over 4.46 crore cases and around 5.30 lakh Covid-19-related deaths so far, reported 1,590 new cases and six deaths in the last 24 hours. This is the highest daily count in 146 days. The active cases have increased to 8,601, while the recovery rate remains over 98 per cent.
The Centre has convened a high-level meeting today to review the Covid-19 situation and preparedness in the country as the new variant of concern poses a threat to the global efforts to contain the pandemic3. The meeting will be chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and will be attended by senior officials from the health ministry, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other relevant agencies3.
The meeting comes at a time when several states have reported cases of Omicron infection among travellers from abroad or their contacts. So far, India has confirmed 131 cases of Omicron across 13 states and union territories. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases with 51, followed by Delhi with 22 and Karnataka with 212. The health ministry has said that all the Omicron cases are mild or asymptomatic and are being monitored in isolation facilities2.
The government has also issued new guidelines for international travellers arriving in India from December 22. According to the guidelines, all travellers will have to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival and wait for the result at the airport. Those who test positive will be isolated and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing to detect any variant of concern. Those who test negative will have to follow home quarantine for seven days and undergo another RT-PCR test on the eighth day4.
The government has also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance and avoiding crowded places. It has also appealed to people to get vaccinated as soon as possible as vaccines provide protection against severe disease and death. India has administered over 2 billion Covid-19 vaccines so far, with 90 per cent of the eligible population receiving at least one dose and 64 per cent receiving both doses2.
The current Covid situation in India is a matter of concern but not panic. The country has shown resilience and determination in fighting the pandemic in the past and can overcome this challenge as well. However, it requires collective responsibility and cooperation from all stakeholders, including the government, health authorities, civil society and citizens. Together, we can defeat Covid-19 and emerge stronger and healthier.