Omicron threat: Test international travellers, focus on genome sequencing, Centre tells states

🔴 The Health Ministry has also asked the states to ensure continuous monitoring of hotspots, which are areas where a recent cluster of positive cases have emerged.

The Centre has told the states that there is a need for rigorous surveillance of international passengers. (Express file photo)

With WHO having classified Omicron as a variant of concern, the Health Ministry has directed the states to review the detailed travel history of passengers arriving via international flights and to absolutely ensure that travellers from “at-risk” countries are tested. All samples which test Covid-positive should be promptly sent for genome sequencing, the ministry said.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, while highlighting to the states the need for rigorous surveillance of international passengers said that there is “already a reporting mechanism for obtaining past travel details of passengers coming through international flight”.

“…this should be reviewed at your level and the protocol provided by this Ministry should be strictly ensured including testing on disembarkation of international travellers coming from “At Risk” Countries and sending all positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner,” Bhushan told the states.

Explained | Explained: Change in rules for foreign travellers to India due to new Covid-19 variant

Bhushan also urged the states to significantly increase the number of tests conducted on the general population and send all Covid-positive samples for genome sequencing. “INSACOG has been established to monitor the circulating variants in the country. It is important at this juncture that States must significantly increase sampling from the general population/community for genome sequencing by sending these samples to INSACOG Lab network as per the policy,” Bhushan told the states.

The Health Ministry has also asked the states to ensure continuous monitoring of hotspots, which are areas where a recent cluster of positive cases have emerged.

Also Read | Why WHO skipped two Greek letters to name new Covid-19 variant Omicron

“In all such “hotspots”, saturation testing and sending of positive samples quickly for genome sequencing to designated INSACOG Labs must be ensured in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). States should keep a close check on the emerging trend of cases and the positivity in an area and quickly delineate hotspots for effective containment of Covid-19,” Bhushan told the states.

The Health Ministry has directed the states to implement a four-pronged approach to effectively manage the situation in the backdrop of reports of the Omicron variant having spread to many countries. Bhushan told the states to implement intensive containment measures and active surveillance of Covid-19 cases.

Story continues below this ad

The ministry has also asked the states to increase vaccination coverage and to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour “in a very proactive manner”.

Kaunain Sheriff M

As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations. Areas of Expertise Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety. Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps. Global Collaborations Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects: The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry. Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time. Awards & Recognition His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors: Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia) Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club) Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots). Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision. Social media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram