Over 200 flying passengers tested positive for COVID; tests revealed the presence of BF. 7 variations: Mandaviya, Mansukh

According to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, nearly 200 flight travellers were discovered COVID-positive with the BF.7 strain after random sampling at airports. According to him, almost 15 lakh flight travellers were examined for Covid-19. “More than 15 lakh aviation travellers have been checked for Covid19 as of today. More than 200 passengers tested positive for Covid, and samples sent for genome sequencing revealed that the BF.7 variation was present in majority of them. Our immunisations work against this variation “Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated.

He stated that, given the global spread of the Covid fourth wave, 8,700 flights have been identified thus far. “Amid the COVID fourth wave in the world, we’re monitoring every airport. So far 8,700 flights have been monitored. Over 15 lakh passengers have been traced and out of them over 200 passengers have been detected as Covid positive,” said Mansukh Mandaviya.

He further added that the vaccine is effective to fight the BF.7 variant.
“All of them were sent for isolation and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. Through genome sequencing, we’ve found Covid BF.7 variant in some passengers. However, our vaccine is effective enough to fight the BF.7 variant. We’re taking all necessary measures,” said Mansukh Mandaviya.

On Wednesday, India recorded 171 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The country’s active caseload now stands at 2,342. According to the health ministry, 4,41,47,322 persons have recovered since the epidemic began, with 148 recoveries occurring in the previous 24 hours. Active cases account for 0.01 percent of all infections, with a recovery rate of 98.8 percent. According to the ministry, the daily positivity rate was 0.09 percent and the weekly positivity rate was 0.11 percent.

“The sewage sampling is being done and there also we are not getting any indication that either a new variant is here or there is a possibility of the upsurge of cases in the coming days or weeks,” Chairman of COVID-19 working group NTAGI, Dr NK Arora said.

In the previous 24 hours, the country conducted 1,80,926 tests, for a total of 91.25 crore tests. More than 220.15 crore vaccine doses have been provided to eligible persons across the country as part of the countrywide immunisation programme. Approximately 44,397 dosages were provided in the previous 24 hours. The Nationwide Vaccination Drive resulted in the administration of 220.15 crore total vaccine doses (95.14 crore second dose and 22.44 crore precaution dose). Meanwhile, examination of sewage samples has shown no new COVID variants, according to a leading health specialist on Tuesday.

According to the official, India has been in a “fairly comfortable situation” during the previous year. “Our genomic surveillance system has identified almost 300 plus sub-variants of Omicron and they are spread all over the place. From time to time a certain sub-lineage becomes dominant. But the important point is that throughout the years we did not have any massive increase or surge in hospitalizations or deaths,” he said.

On Monday Union Health Ministry also said, “Sentinel sequencing of 324 COVID Positive Samples reveals the presence of all Omicron Variants in Community. No mortality or rise in transmission was reported in areas where these variants were detected”.

“Our genomic surveillance system has identified almost 300 plus sub-variants of Omicron and they are spread all over the place. From time to time a certain sub-lineage becomes dominant. But the important point is that throughout the years we did not have any massive increase or surge in hospitalizations or deaths,” he said.

On Monday Union Health Ministry also said, “Sentinel sequencing of 324 COVID Positive Samples reveals the presence of all Omicron Variants in Community. No mortality or rise in transmission was reported in areas where these variants were detected”.