The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has directed officials to maintain a high level of alertness, conduct aggressive genetic sequencing and intensify Covid-19 surveillance across the country.

A high-level meeting with the minister discussing Wednesday’s decision to resume international flights as well as vaccination and genomic surveillance.

“Given the rising cases in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and some European countries.” A high-level meeting was held by Union Health Minister with senior government officials and experts to discuss what steps need to be taken.

“The minister has ordered intense genomic sequencing, increased surveillance and heightened alertness,” an official source said.

Senior government officials including Rajesh Bhushan, the Health Secretary of India; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, the secretary in Department of Biotechnology; Dr. S Aparna Rao and V K Paul, member-secretary at NITI Aayog and a health expert respectively attended this meeting

China has been witnessing the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the last two years and an increase in cases is occurring at a rapid pace. A lockdown has been implemented to curb the surge, resulting in millions placed under arrest. In Hong Kong, it’s also seen as worsening by authorities.