Step UP testing, Centre tells nine states, UTs

A man gives his swab sample at the district hospital in Noida on Thursday. Pic/PTI

Underlining the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and the preponderance of asymptomatic cases, the Centre has urged nine states and union territories to ramp up Covid-19 testing to ensure that infected people do not spread the virus to others. In a letter to Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja pointed out a considerable decline in Covid-19 testing amid rising cases and positivity rate and said it is a "cause of concern".

In Amritsar, 125 passengers on a charter flight that came from Milan in Italy were found to be Covid-positive, officials have said. There were 179 passengers on the flight. Italy is a "high-risk" country as per the Centre. Meanwhile, the rise in cases also forced the Gujarat government to postpone its much-publicised Vibrant Gujarat summit.

A healthcare worker collects a sample of a passenger, at Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi on Thursday. Pic/ANI

In the absence of sufficient testing, it is rather impossible to determine the true level of infection spread in the community, Ahuja said in her letter dated January 5. "With the increased detection of the Variant of Concern (VOC), Omicron, and a majority of countries seeing multiple surges in cases despite high levels of vaccination, there is a need for continued vigil and efforts to prevent any deterioration of the Covid-19 scenario.

"Keeping in mind the unpredictable and highly transmissible behaviour of Omicron and the larger preponderance of asymptomatic cases, ramping up testing in the initial days itself will help to ensure that the infected individual does not spread the virus to others," she said. It has been observed that there has been a considerable decline in Covid-19 testing in these states and union territories amid rising cases and positivity, which is a cause of concern, Ahuja said.

A health worker collects a sample in Prayagraj on Thursday. Pic/ANI

She advised them to review and ensure availability of sufficient stock of testing reagents and kits etc., and regular arrangement of testing facilities, consumables, and logistics. India on Thursday saw the biggest single-day jump of 495 Omicron cases, taking the total number of infections of the new variant to 2,630, according to Union health ministry data.

Delhi's TPR at 15.34%

The national capital on Thursday recorded 15,097 fresh cases, the highest single-day rise since May 8, and six deaths while the positivity rate mounted to 15.34 per cent, according to data shared by authorities.

125 on flight from Italy +ve in Amritsar

A total of 125 passengers on a Milan-Amritsar charter flight were found to be Covid-positive when tested on arrival, government officials said on Thursday. Officials said there were a total of 179 passengers on the charter flight that landed at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday.

Vibrant Gujarat Summit postponed

The Gujarat government on Thursday decided to postpone the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, that was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 10, in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases, according to the Chief Minister's Office. The three-day summit was to be held in a big way to attract investments.

3,51,09,286
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in india so far

4,82,876
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

2,85,401
Total no. of active cases in India

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