In view of a sudden surge in coronavirus cases in Europe and South Africa, Union Health Ministry today directed the states to ramp up testing and send all the cases which have tested positive for coronavirus virus, for genome sequencing  to the mapped INSACOG labs for early detection of the new virus variant, Omicron. 

The Centre said the states should adopt  the same old strategy – "test, track and treat" in states to detect the Omicron variant.

Besides, the  states also  have been asked to step up the “Har Ghar Dastak”, vaccination campaign to cover each household to vaccinate the targeted age groups as the centre has extended the date of the campaign till December 31.  

Though no case of Omicron variant was detected so far in India, the Ministry has sent this directive to states, saying that as per WHO the variant does not escape the RTPCR and RAT testing. The states should ramp up testing and should keep a strict vigil on clusters and hotspots in the state, said officials.

All the  samples of Covid-19 positive cases  should be sent for genome sequencing  to detect the new variant Omicron, said the directive issued by the Centre.

On Tuesday, the Centre reviewed the  Covid -19 “Omicron” situation  in view of the sudden rise in cases in Europe and South Africa after WHO sounded an alert.

The samples for genome sequencing should be sent to mapped INSACOG Labs, a consortium of  labs network launched by the Centre.  The states should also put in place infrastructure including beds in hospitals, home surveillance and stocks of medicines  to deal with the situation.

Citing the WHO’s guidelines for individuals to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, the Ministry tagged the advice of the director and CEO, AIIMS Raipur Dr Nitin Nagarkar saying that they should maintain  1 m distance, avoiding crowded paces, sneezing in elbow and wearing the protective mask and should use the alcohol- based hand sanitizers and  increase ventilation. 

As far as symptoms of Omicron are concerned, WHO has not found specific symptoms other than ones found in the Delt variant saying that the Omicron can reinfect who already had the infection, said the health authorities.