Omicron variant: Health Secretary asks states to ramp up testing, contact tracing

(Image: AFP)

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on December 3 asked states to be extra vigilant in enforcing public health measures to contain the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Bhushan, in his letter to states and UTs, reiterated measures to be implemented by them.

On inbound international passengers, he said, "The passengers coming into your State/UT must be followed up through the surveillance mechanism and tested as per the extant guidelines of international travel."

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He also called for "constant vigilance" on transmission of variant.

"Enhanced Testing is the only strategy for detection of the virus- hence as per the earlier guidelines of ICMR and Ministry of Health, focused and strategic testing must be taken up in the State/UT, especially in and around new clusters of infection," Bhushan said.

The Health Secretary also stressed the significance of "contact tracing of all positive persons" saying it will remain the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

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He further directed states to put in place a system to ensure that samples of all those who test positive are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing expeditiously.

"Some clusters of infections have been reported from some places in the country. Active surveillance and testing is the key in detection of such clusters or hotspots. Kindly keep actively following up the number of cases, rate of testing and positivity district wise in all districts," Bhushan wrote in the letter.

He said that any uptick in cases and positivity must be immediately taken cognisance of and addressed through public health measures such as contact tracing, quarantining of contacts, isolation of those found positive and ensuring proper containment.

India on December 2 reported its first two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 from Karnataka - in a South African national and a Bengaluru doctor with no travel history and both men fully vaccinated.