Covid fear again in India: China returnee tests positive for Covid in Gujarat

The district administration in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar is on alert after a man, who returned from COVID-hit China, tested positive for the deadly virus on Thursday. Covid fear again in India: China returnee tests positive for Covid in Gujarat.

The 34-year-old businessman, who is a resident of Bhavnagar, had visited China for work-related purposes. He returned to India on December 19. Bhavnagar corporation have increased Covid-19 testing in the city in the wake of state government ramping up precautionary measures to check the spread of virus.

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Wednesday asked officials to conduct “compulsory” testing of travellers arriving in the state from other countries. So far, India has reported four case of BF.7 variant of Omicron, the strain driving the Covid surge in China. Two of the new variant cases have been detected in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday asked states to remain alert and create awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour. In view of the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations, the health minister emphasised the need to create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers.

In view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations, states also need to focus on ensuring effective awareness within the community on adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour which includes use of masks, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene practices, besides following physical distancing,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the Covid review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, experts said although there is no overall increase in Covid caseload as of now, there is a need for continued surveillance to keep a track of existing and emerging variants.

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”The BF.7’s high transmissibility in China might be attributed to a low level of immunity in the Chinese population from the previous infection and possibly vaccination too,” an official source said.