Delhi to send all positive cases for genome testing

Kejriwal urges Centre to allow booster jabs for the fully vaccinated in the city

Amid the Omicron scare and the growing number of coronavirus cases in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said all samples that test positive for the infection will now be sent for genome sequencing. He also urged the Centre to allow the administration of booster shots to the fully vaccinated city residents. The chief minister appealed to people not to panic and wear masks as they are the most effective protection against the virus.

“For the last few days, Covid-19 cases are increasing in the city. Yesterday [Sunday], it was over 100. We don’t know what type of Covid cases these are, normal or the Omicron variant. So, to ascertain this we have now decided to send the samples of all positive cases for genome sequencing,” Kejriwal said at a press conference.

Delhi has reported 24 cases of the Omicron variant so far, according to sources. “I request the central government to allow booster doses for all those who have been vaccinated with both doses. We have the infrastructure to administer booster doses. We can start with our healthcare workers and then vaccinate the rest of the population,” he said.

ICMR ready with kit to detect Omicron

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has designed a diagnostic kit for detection of Omicron variant of the coronavirus and has invited Expression of Interest from in vitro diagnostics kit manufacturers.

‘Vaccines can be tweaked for future’

Covid vaccines can be ‘tweaked’ to provide protection against new variants, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria has said. “We should have protection as far as the vaccine is concerned. And I think it is important to remember that vaccines can be tweaked,” he said.

3,47,46,838
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in India so far

4,77,554
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

82,267
Total no. of active cases in India

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