Jharkhand Health Minister asks PM Modi to halt international flights amid Omicron fears

Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Saturday has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop all international flights. Gupta urged PM to consider reinstating travel ban amid rising concern over foreign countries reporting cases of new coronavirus strain Omicron. World Health Organisation (WHO) has marked fresh strain of coronavirus as a Variant of concern(VOC).

Banna Gupta said that virus must be looked at with caution as it is believed to have a high spreading rate. “I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt international flights in view of new COVID-19 variant. Important steps should be taken. It is being said that Omicron is more dangerous than previous variants,” Gupta told ANI. He added that country must stay prepared for a possible spread of new variant.  

Earlier on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also urged PM Modi to stop all flights from countries amid concern over spread of Omicron. “I urge Hourable PM to stop flights from those countries which are affected by new variant. With great difficulty, our country has recovered from Corona. We should do everything possible to prevent this new variant from entering India,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted Saturday morning.

centre on Friday anunced that international flight operations will resume in India starting December 15. However, it also informed that services to certain ‘at risk’ countries including South Africa, Botswana, Israel and Hong Kong, will remain restricted. government has also asked states and union territories to carry out rigorous screening of passengers from countries reporting Omicron strain of COVID-19.

PM Modi asks officials to review international travel 

PM Modi chaired a meeting with top officials on Saturday to discuss country's pandemic situation. During comprehensive meeting, PM Modi was briefed about new variant of concern ‘Omicron’ along with its characteristics and impact seen in various countries. PM directed officials to be proactive in light of new variant and discussed its implications for India. He highlighted need to monitor all international arrivals, ir testing as per guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified 'at risk'. 

In addition to this, PM Modi also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of emerging new evidence. He said that people need to be more cautious and take proper precautions like masking and social distancing. 

Im: ANI/ PTI