New Covid-19 variant in South Africa: India govt issues advisory to states

Nov. 25: The Union Government has issued an advisory to the states after a new Covid-19variant B.1.1.529 with multiple mutations was detected in South Africa. The advisory stated that 6 such cases infected with the new variant were detected in South Africa, one case in Hong Kong and 3 cases in Botswana. In the advisory, the Centre asked the states to ensure ‘rigorous screening and testing’of international travelers from these and ‘at risk’ nations. It was also mentioned that the ‘variant has serious public health implications.’