The Union Health Secretary has directed to ensure that samples of all positive cases are sent to designated Incog Genome Laboratories.
New Delhi: In view of rising cases of Covid in China and other countries, the central government has directed the states to increase the genome genetic sequencing of positive samples. This was reported by news agency PTI.
“In view of the sudden surge of Covid cases in Japan, USA, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is necessary to conduct whole genome sequencing of positive case samples through the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to detect virus variants,” the letter to states and Union Territories said. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.
The health secretary said in the letter that it should be ensured that samples of all positive cases are sent to the designated Incog Genome Laboratories on a daily basis. Such a measure, he said, would help in timely detection of new variants of the virus if it is spreading in the country.
The health secretary directed early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and control the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
He said the public health challenge posed by Covid-19 is still causing 3.5 lakh cases to be reported every week across the world. He pointed to India’s five-pronged strategy of testing, detection, treatment and follow-up on the Covid-19 standard and its effectiveness in limiting weekly cases to 1,200.
Referring to the operational guidelines of the revised vigilance strategy issued by the Ministry of Health in June, he emphasized the importance of monitoring the trends of existing variants.
The number of covid cases in China is increasing day by day. The current situation is caused by new variants of Omicron. China lifted strict virus restrictions earlier this month following protests. Seven Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the last two days. Omicron’s highly virulent variants BA.5.2 and BF.7 are reported to be spreading in Chinese cities.