New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked officials to review the lifting of international travel restrictions after growing concerns regarding the new Covid variant first detected in South Africa. The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday (Nov. 26) announced the resumption of international scheduled commercial flights from December 15..
The Indian PM held a meeting Saturday (Nov. 27) morning with top Health Ministry officials, where he was briefed on the new variant Omicron and its characteristics, its impact in other countries, and its implications for India. In a statement, the PMO said Modi highlighted the need to monitor all international arrivals, with a focus on countries identified as ‘at risk’. “The PM spoke about the need to be proactive in light of the new variant… He also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions,” the statement said, adding that he stressed precautions like masking and social distancing.
A senior official in the Aviation Ministry said while a review regarding international travel was on, no decision had been taken so far. “We are monitoring how the situation evolves and will take a decision in consultation with the ministries of Health, Home and External Affairs,” the official said.
The Aviation Ministry Friday unveiled plans for the resumption of scheduled international flights to India in a calibrated manner, with the staggered re-opening for countries considered ‘at-risk’. These include Europe, including the UK, in addition to South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.
At the Saturday meeting, Modi was given an overview of the genome sequencing efforts regarding the virus, and he talked about broad-basing the same. “He directed that intensive containment and active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases, and the required technical support be provided to states which are reporting higher cases,” the PMO said.
Health Ministry officials were directed to work closely with state governments to ensure proper awareness.
Modi also underlined the need to increase second dose coverage in the country, and ensure this was done on schedule. While 83% of the target population has received its first dose in the country, those fully vaccinated are almost half of that, at 46%.
Preliminary tests indicate Omicron, or the B.1.1.529 variant, has multiple mutations — 30 in the region that encodes the spike protein, which is responsible for the virus’s entry into human cells. Some of the mutations are associated with higher transmissibility and immune evasion.
