New Delhi: The first case of Covid Omicron BF-7 variant has been found in India in an NRI lady in Vadodara, Gujarat. The same variant has caused the situation of havoc in China. According to some sources in the Health Ministry, random sampling for Covid- 19 has started among international passengers at airports in the country today.
According to reports, the first case was already detected at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, while two more cases have also been found, each in Gujarat and Odisha respectively.
The Omicron BF-7 variant was first detected in China in October 2022 and after reporting 1,760 cases till October 12, the Chinese government reimposed the lockdowns and travel restrictions. During the surge, China also recorded more than 35,000 cases in a day and the variant also caused multiple deaths. BF-7 variant is also being detected in Belgium, England Germany, Denmark and France.
This variant is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has similar symptoms to that of the Omicron variant previously found in India. The Union government has asked people to wear masks in crowded places and get their precautionary doses of the vaccine, though no restrictions or lockdowns have been imposed yet.
Meanwhile, Health Miniter Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also held a meeting after Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sikhu tested positive for Covid-19. National Health Mission also said that they have got instructions to conduct genome-sequencing of all Covid cases and now the test will be conducted on a daily basis.
