Omicron threat: Centre to send teams to 10 states with high Covid-19 cases, low vaccination

Uttar Pradesh -The centre will send teams to 10 states to monitor the coronavirus situation in those states. The Union Health Ministry said that the 10 states have been reporting a high number of Covid-19 cases and low vaccination rates.

The Centre will send teams in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,  Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Mizoram, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Karnataka. The teams will work in these states for three to five days. The work will be done in coordination with the local authorities, the health ministry said in a memorandum.

What Will the Teams Do?

The teams will focus on vaccination drive, social distancing, surveillance of patients, containment operations, Covid-19 testing, number of cases, and the facilities provided by the hospitals of those states. Reportedly, the Covid-19 surge and the variant has affected those states severely. This decision of sending teams comes at a time when India is suffering to tackle the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Omicron variant in India

Ever since the news of the Omicron variant being detected in India, the centre started focusing on the vaccination drive. The omicron variant can navigate the country into a third wave of COVID-19 infections. The Omicron covid variant is much deadlier than other variants.

It is also spreading faster than the other variants of Covid-19. In some cases, people who are fully vaccinated are also getting infected by this new variant. India already imposed new travel restrictions on passengers travelling from “at-risk” countries. Several states also imposed fresh restrictions on gatherings in public spaces amid New Year and Christmas celebrations.

The government already requested people to get vaccinated quickly and take precautions to ensure safety.  Evidence shows that vaccination is the most effective way of preventing the spread of coronavirus infection. Reportedly, a total number of 415 Omicron cases have been recorded in the country so far.