Will protect you & your family, says Kejriwal after new S Africa Covid variant triggers alert in India
A new South Africa Covid variant has triggered alert in India with the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan writing a letter to all states and UTs on Thursday.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for a meeting of medical and scientific experts on Monday following “the threat from (the) new Covid variant from African countries”.
“In view of the threat from (the) new Covid-19 variant from African countries, we have requested experts to make a presentation to DDMA on Monday, and suggest what steps we should take. We will take all steps necessary to protect you and your family,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
The Health Secretary said as quoted by the media: “lt is therefore imperative that all international travellers travelling from and transiting through these countries (they are part of the “at risk” country category of international travellers coming to India) and also including all other “at risk” countries located in the revised guidelines for international arrivals issued by this ministry dated 11.11.2021, are subjected to rigorous screening and testing, as per Health Ministry guidelines.”
“This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel,” Bhushan said.
Several cases were reported in Delhi when the second wave ravaged the national Capital with many people in Okhla falling prey to the highly contagious virus.
According to media reports, on November 25 Delhi reported 35 Covid cases at a positivity rate of 0.06 per cent and zero fatality due to the infection. This was also confirmed by the data shared by the health department here Thursday.
So far in November four deaths have been recorded in Delhi due to Covid. Four had succumbed to the viral disease in October and five in September.
