Call to step up Covid genome sequencing to track variants

Health minister to review Covid situation in the country today

After China reported a surge in Covid-19 cases, the federal government asked all Indian states to quicken the whole genome sequencing of positive cases to track the new variant, yesterday.

In a letter to all states and union territories, the Health Ministry said: “In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARSCoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network.”

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in the letter, explained that such an exercise will enable the timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same.

Daily work

“In this context, all states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the states and UTs,” the Health Ministry told states.

The Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of Covid-19 issued by Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in June, 2022 calls for early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Therefore, monitoring the trends of existing variants is of crucial importance, reads the letter.

Spike in infections

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the Covid-19 situation in the country today. The move is a response to the sudden rise in new Covid infection in countries around the world.

He is expected to review the country’s situation with senior officials at 11am today.