Belagavi: Karnataka Well being Minister Dr Ok Sudhakar on Thursday mentioned the state authorities will enhance testing and ship all of the samples of contemporary COVID-19 instances for genome sequencing to the laboratory. His assertion got here within the wake of the detection of latest variant BF.7 of the coronavirus within the nation, which is believed to be linked to the surge in COVID instances in China and different elements of the world.
“The health ministry has asked us to send samples of all the fresh positive cases for genome sequencing. We will do that immediately,” Sudhakar advised reporters right here.
“We are going to increase testing. The new variant BF.7 has been found in a few states. We will have to keep a track of it because once it has come to India, there is a possibility of it coming to Karnataka as well,” he added.
The minister additionally mentioned Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will chair a gathering the place COVID-19-related measures can be determined.
“We will discuss and decide in the meeting chaired by our Chief Minister whether we have to make rules or issue an advisory,” he added.
Sudhakar mentioned the Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, which was constituted by the state authorities, had a gathering on Wednesday. The committee will ship a report back to him which can be mentioned within the assembly with Bommai, he mentioned.
The minister additionally mentioned the brand new protocol is that folks should stay with COVID and insisted upon booster dose.
“People should take all the three jabs of the COVID vaccine and use face masks in crowded places but we have not decided on issuing guidelines on the measures to be taken,” Sudhakar mentioned.
Based on him, there was 100 per cent protection of the primary two doses whereas solely 2 per cent of individuals took the booster dose as they turned much less cautious in view of the discount within the an infection.
Relating to the measures in view of Christmas and New 12 months celebrations, Sudhakar mentioned everybody has the expertise of the previous three years concerning the precautions to be taken.
To a query, he mentioned he has not but spoken to Union Well being Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Nonetheless, the Well being division officers are in contact with the union well being ministry officers.
