'COVID-19 may turn into biological warfare,' warns CDS Chief Bipin Rawat, calls for unity

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday cautioned nation amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while adding that it might develop into biological warfare and if it happens n India needs to stay prepared. CDS Rawat was speaking at curtain raiser event of disaster manment exercise involving BIMSTEC member countries. In said event, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane also warned regarding emergence of new variants of COVID-19, suggesting virus is far from over. 

Countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India participated in event.

"Ar issue I would like to highlight is, is this is also becoming a new kind of warfare… If biological warfare is beginning to take shape, we need to put our act toger and strengn ourselves to ensure our nations are t affected by se viruses and diseases,” CDS Rawat said at PANEX-21 curtain raiser event.

CDS Bipin Rawat speaks on Omicron outbreak

Furr speaking on virus issue, he added that 'w Omicron variant of COVID-19 is also re and if it is going to mutate in or forms, we have to remain prepared for it'. Army official also stressed on unity between citizens, suggesting it to be need of hour. Outlining Army's duty, CDS Chief said that Armed forces will have to make special preparations to counter disasters as during COVID-19, it could be seen that defence forces were used by every nation to reach out and help ir civilian population.

What is COVID-19 new variant Omicron?

new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' was first detected in South Africa and n spread to over 30 countries including India. Presently, India has reported 23 cases of Omicron among foreign travellers. Two such cases were detected in Karnataka, one in Gujarat and 10 in Maharashtra, nine in Rajasthan and one in Delhi. India has mandated testing and quarantining of foreign returnees from 'at-risk' nations where Omicron cases have been detected. As per medical journal of South Africa, Omicron only causes mild fever, but transmission rate is higher than or variants. It is five-six times more transmissible than Delta variant, which is a cause of concern, state experts.

With ANI inputs