States up vigil to fight Omicron variant, tough scrutiny at major airports

The Centre has directed all states to ramp up health infrastructure, enhance testing and surveillance in light of the Omicron variant

Spooked by the news of a new coronavirus variant of Concern (VoC), Omicron, detected in South Africa and its neighbouring countries, state governments have sprung into action to ensure early detection and precaution. Besides stringent scrutiny at all major airports, several measures are being put in place.

The Mumbai civic body, for instance, has asked its wards to sanitise public toilets five times a day, re-inspect the Covid-19 jumbo treatment centres, review ward warrooms, check the production and storage of oxygen, assess the stock of essential medicines and manpower as also of electrical and fire-fighting systems.

The city’s private hospitals have been