Omicron doesn’t escape RT-PCR, RAT: Centre

A medical worker collects a swab sample of a passenger at Charbagh railway station in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Underlining that the Omicron variant of Coronavirus does not escape RT-PCR and RAT tests, the Centre on Tuesday advised states and UTs to ramp up testing and undertake effective surveillance of international passengers even as it asserted that no case of the new variant has been found as yet in the country.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level virtual meeting with states and UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid cases of Omicron variant being reported across various countries.

Reiterating that the revised guidelines and international travel advisories of the Union health ministry have been shared with the states, Bhushan advised states 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, a health ministry statement said.

Also, noting the critical role of vaccination as a powerful defence against COVID-19, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said the ‘Har Ghar Dastak' vaccination campaign has been extended till December 31 with a focus on 100 per cent first dose coverage and completing the backlog of second dose vaccination, the statement said.

India has so far not reported any case of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed Parliament on Tuesday.

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