Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

18 flyers from at-risk nations tested positive so far: Govt

December 03, 2021 18:59 IST

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed Parliament that RT-PCR tests of 16,000 passengers from 'at-risk' countries have been conducted so far, of whom 18 have tested positive for COVID-19.

IMAGE: Passengers maintain COVID-19 protocols at Lucknow airport as the state government decided to intensify surveillance and increase RT-PCR tests at the airports, railway stations, and bus stand following the precautionary measures of a new variant 'Omicron'. Photograph: Naeem Ansari/ANI Photo

He also said that genome sequencing for Omicron detection is underway for such passengers.

Replying to a debate on the pandemic in the Lok Sabha, he said the Union government has taken measures to make the country ready for any future challenges and adopted the buffer stock policy to ensure that all states have enough medicines to deal with any further surge in COVID-19 cases.

 

"A decision on booster dose and jabs for children will be taken on the basis of scientific advise," he said and appealed to opposition parties to trust scientists.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.