Lok Sabha Question No. 47 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: New COVID-19 Variants
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rakesh Singh, Kalyan Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.47 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## NEW COVID-19 VARIANTS

## †*47. SHRI RAKESH SINGH: SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  preparations  to  deal  with  the  current  wave  of COVID-19 in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has also taken note of the possibility regarding spread of more dangerous variants of COVID-19 after Omicron and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  measures  taken  to  ensure  adequate  availability  of  hospitals,  doctors,  beds  and medicines,  State/UT-wise  and  to  equip  the  Indian  healthcare  system  to  handle  any future waves of COVID-19 and other epidemics/pandemics;
- (d) whether the Government has recommended any Standard Operating Procedure for the  States/UTs  to  manage  and  respond  to  health  emergencies  of  post  COVID-19 Omicron and Flurona variants; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 47* FOR 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

(a)  to  (e) :  Government  of  India  is  supporting  States  in  their  endeavor  to  manage COVID-19 since the beginning of pandemic. Given the emergence of variants of COVID19 virus with variable transmissibility, and virulence fluctuations in COVID-19 trajectory in  the  country  is  monitored  by  various  expert  committees  under  Indian  Council  of Medical Research & Directorate General of Health Services. Union Ministry of Health & FW continues to keep a close watch over COVID-19 situation across the country and globally.

With the reporting of Omicron Variant, a highly mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus  and  its  classification  as  a  Variant  of  Concern  (VoC)  by  the  World  Health Organization  (WHO),  the  Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  revised  its  Guidelines  for international arrivals. Following a risk based approach; provisions for mandatory predeparture & post arrival RT-PCR testing on day 8 th of  arrival  and  a  mandatory home quarantine for 7 days have been made in the present guidelines for all international travelers  to  India.  Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  is  accordingly  coordinating  and collaborating with other stakeholder Ministries/departments including Ministry of Civil Aviation,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways,  Ministry  of  Railways  and  all States/UTs  etc.  The  current  surge  of  COVID-19  cases  in  the  country  is  showing  a sustained declining trend since the last 10 days.

Besides regular review meetings at the level of Union Health Minister with all relevant  stakeholders  including  subject  experts,  review  meetings  with  States/UTs through  video  conferencing  have  been  conducted  regularly  to  review  preparedness and response measures to address COVID-19 pandemic. States/UTs have been advised to undertake the following activities:

-  Strict monitoring of International travelers in the community.
-  Contact tracing of positive individuals & follow up for 14 days.
-  Genome  sequencing  of  positive  samples  through  INSACOG  Labs  in  a  prompt manner.
-  Continued monitoring of areas where cluster of positive cases emerge.
-  Further strengthening of COVID-19  testing infrastructure and  ensuring early identification of cases through adequate testing across the States.
-  Ensuring preparedness of health infrastructure (availability of ICU, oxygen supported beds, ventilators, etc.) and upgrading health infrastructure under ECRP-II including in rural areas and for pediatric cases.
-  Commissioning all PSA plants, ensuring sufficient logistics, drugs etc.
-  Ensuring  COVID-19  vaccination  for  the  eligible  population  including  coverage among  young  adolescents  (15-18  years)  and  precaution  dose  for  health  care workers, frontline workers and elderly with comorbidities.
-  Ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare continues to provide technical guidance for managing various aspects of COVID-19. To disseminate various clinical guidelines for appropriate  management  of  cases,  a  series  of  webinars  were  held  under  MoHFW's Center of Excellence initiative for all State Level Centers of Excellence and district level public and private COVID health facilities in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi and Indian Medical Association. crore (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central Component) has been approved. Of this, as on 31 st

Union Ministry of Health & FW continues to provide support to States/UTs to enhance  preparedness  and  response  capacities  against  COVID-19  and  other  public health emergencies. Funding support is also provided to States/UTs through National Health  Mission,  State  Disaster  Response  Funds  (SDRF)  and  Emergency  COVID-19 Response and Preparedness packages. Under ECRP Phase II, a package of Rs. 23,123 January 2022, funds to the tune of Rs. 7245.95 crore have been released to States/UTs as part of Central component to strengthen health infrastructure to manage any surge in cases.

****