Lok Sabha Question No. 1700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Genome Sequencing of Omicron Variant of COVID-19
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi, Feroze Varun Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1700 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11.02.2022

## GENOME SEQUENCING OF OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19

## 1700. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWY: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- a) The percentage of sample per state that undergoes genome sequence to detect the Omicron variant  along  with  the  total  number  of  labs  in  the  country  that  are  equipped  to  conduct genome sequencing;
- b) Whether the Government is cognizant that the official data on Omicron cases is not truly representative of the actual number of such cases in the country;
- c) If so, whether the Government has initiated action towards assessment of the number of Omicron cases in the third wave;
- d) Whether the government has introduced booster doses, as the earlier doses are not sufficient to protect the people from the outbreak of new variants of this virus; and
- e) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## ANSWER ( DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e) The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), jointly initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is a consortium of laboratories to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2.

This consortium has been expanded to 52 laboratories. Through  whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 the network aids to understand how the virus spreads and evolves,  and provide information to aid public health response. For the sentinel surveillance nearly 300 sentinel sites are  identified  to  send  samples  to  the  regional  sequencing  labs  through  the  integrated  disease surveillance programme network.

Sentinel site are expected to send at least 15 samples every 15 days to the identified IGSL as per standard specimen collection procure. Additionally, surge sampling of vaccine failures, atypical clinical presentations, super spreader events is also taken up. Besides this, in view of threat of new  variants  (including  the  recent  Omicron  variant)  entering  from  abroad,  a  Point  of  Entry (PoEs) screening is also undertaken.

Detection  and  confirmation  of  every  case  of  Omicron  variant  is  not  warranted  from  a  public health  standpoint  but  is  intended  to  inform  about  the  prevalent  variant  in  circulation  to  take informed decision on public health measures that are required to be taken up. The total number of Omicron cases identified through whole genome sequencing is indicative of proportion of new cases of Omicron Variant in the country.

As  per  the  recommendation  of  the  National  Technical  Advisory  Group  on  Immunization (NTAGI), administration of precaution dose has started from 10th January 2022 to those Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front Line Workers (FLWs) and persons aged 60 years & above with co-morbidities who have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines.