India advises states to step up COVID-19 testing; Mumbai delays school reopening

BENGALURU: India’s well being ministry mentioned on Tuesday states ought to ramp up COVID-19 testing because the world battles the brand new coronavirus variant omicron, whereas some cities delayed the reopening of colleges as a precautionary measure.
The ministry additionally mentioned the omicron variant “doesn’t escape RT-PCR and RAT (testing),” appeasing some issues amongst home well being staff that adjustments within the spike protein of the virus may result in typical checks failing to detect the variant.
It comes because the ministry warned state governments final week {that a} current fall in testing may undermine India’s efforts to include the pandemic.
Whereas India has not reported any omicron instances but, authorities are learning the pattern of a person who examined optimistic for COVID-19 after lately coming back from South Africa to see if he’s contaminated with the omicron or one other variant.
Additionally on Tuesday, Mumbai’s municipal company mentioned it was delaying reopening faculties for youthful kids to Dec. 15 as a substitute of Wednesday as a precautionary measure given the worldwide scenario involving omicron. In-person lessons for senior college students started about two months in the past.
The town of Pune, which can also be situated within the western state of Maharashtra, has additionally postponed the reopening of colleges, native media reported.
After battling a document leap in infections and deaths in April and Could, instances have come down considerably in India.
Its COVID-19 instances rose by 6,990 on Tuesday — the smallest enhance in 551 days — to 34.59 million. Solely america has reported extra whole infections.
Deaths rose by 190, taking the overall to 468,980, well being ministry knowledge confirmed.