India worried as Covid wave in China may spread across borders, Centre alerts states

The Covid wave sweeping across China has given rise to serious concern in India as experts feel the disease could spread across the globe again. The Centre has asked states to step up the vigil against Covid and keep close track of any fresh cases that may break out. Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has called a high-level review meeting to take stock of the situation and chalk out preventive measures.

The states have been asked to send samples of all Covid cases daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs that have been set across the country to monitor and study the strains and take steps to fight the disease.

“ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants,” reads the letter from Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to all states.

“Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” the letter explains.

India has reported 112 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,490, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

Three deaths were also recorded over the last 24 hours, two from Kerala and one from Maharashtra.

China has been reporting up to fresh 30,000 cases a day in the new wave and crematoriums in the country are struggling to cope with the rising number of deaths.

There is reported to be a week-long wait for funerals in some crematoriums in Beijing, according to an AFP report.

According to reports, in the recent spike of cases, hospitals have been overwhelmed and pharmacies have run out of medicines.

However, officially the Chinese government is keeping mum on the situation and claiming only 5 people have died.