COVID-19: Union Health Minister cautions people not to panic, remain alert and avoid rumour

COVID-19: The Union Health Minister advises the public to avoid panicking, be vigilant, and disregard rumours.

Mansukh Mandaviya, the union minister of health, urged the people on Thursday to be vigilant and adhere to whatever instructions the government may release from time to time rather than panicking over COVID-19.
In order to prevent any type of panic in the nation, he said, people should only accept information supplied by official sources. Covid-19 variations will keep appearing, but the crucial issue is how each variety will respond. The administration is vigilant and making all necessary preparations, according to the minister of health.
Between December 24 and January 3, according to government sources, testing of foreign travellers at airports and seaports revealed eleven different COVID-19 Omicron Sub-variants.

International traveller samples totaling 19,227 were analysed, and 124 of those results were positive and isolated, according to the sources. “Of the 124 positive samples, genome sequencing results of 40 were received of which XBB including XBB.1 was found in the maximum 14 samples. BF 7.4.1 has been found in one sample,” as per official sources. Following samples from these foreign travellers, other variations have been identified as BA.5.2, BQ.1.1, BQ.1.1(22), BQ.1.1.5, CH.1.1, CH.1.1.1, BB.3, BN.1.2, BN1.3, BY1, and BF. The sources said that all of these variations are already available in the nation.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India recorded a modest increase in COVID infections on Thursday, with 188 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours (MoHFW).
On Wednesday, 175 additional cases were reported nationwide.

The MoHFW reports that India now has 2,554 active cases, having an active case rate of 0.01 percent.
The nation’s recovery rate was likewise 98.8% after 201 recoveries occurred on the previous day, bringing the total to 4,41,46,055. According to the Health Ministry, the nation’s weekly and daily positive rates are 0.12 and 0.10 percent, respectively.

The Health Ministry said that a total of 220.12 crore vaccine doses—95.13 crore second doses and 22.42 crore precaution doses—have been provided as part of the nationwide vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with 61,828 of those doses administered on the previous day. The number of COVID tests performed across the nation increased to 91.15 crores as a result of the 1,93,051 tests that were completed in the past 24 hours, according to the report. The operational readiness of health institutions is being examined in all states and Union Territories in case of another wave, since there have been reports of an increase in COVID cases in various nations.

Covid instances have recently increased globally due to the BF.7 variety, which is thought to be the main cause of the increase in cases, particularly in China and the US.