Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:44pm on 22 Dec 2023,Friday Health & Wellness
The Union government has instructed the States to send all positive COVID-19 test swabs for whole genome sequencing, intensifying surveillance for potential Sars-CoV-2 variants in India. The move follows concerns about the JN.1 variant outbreak, prompting increased vigilance. Officials emphasize that while sequencing aids in identifying variants, there's no surge in severe cases or hospital admissions. A senior government official assures that the directive is part of nationwide COVID-19 surveillance, urging States to enhance testing as a precautionary measure. Whole genome sequencing complements RT-PCR tests by identifying mutations and determining the virus variant in circulation.
