Omicron Does Not Escape RT-PCR, Rat Tests: Govt

Asks states, Union Territories to ramp up testing; extends nationwide containment norms till December 31

NEW DELHI: Amidst a heightened level of concern over the Omicron variant, the Centre on Tuesday advised states and UTs to ramp up testing and undertake effective surveillance of international passengers, asserting that the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 does not escape RT-PCR and RAT tests as it extended the nationwide COVID-19 containment measures till December 31.

Also on Tuesday, Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Parliament that the new COVID-19 variant — Omicron — has not been reported in India yet and asserted that the government has taken measures to ensure that it does not reach the country and has issued an advisory after looking at developments globally.

The strict norms for international passengers arriving in the country, especially from ‘at risk’ countries, will also come into effect from December 1 as part of the government’s efforts to keep the spread of the new variant at bay. More than a dozen countries have reported cases of the Omicron, dubbed as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation.

Chairing a high-level meeting with states and UTs to review public health preparedness in the country, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised states and UTs not to let their guard down and keep a strict vigil on the international passengers coming to the country through various airports, ports and land border crossings and stressed on strict monitoring of hotspots.

He also noted that the revised guidelines and international travel advisories have been shared with the states.