As the Centre convenes a high-level meeting in the wake of the Covid surge in China, the Indian Medical Association has come up with an advisory, instructing citizens to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour with immediate effect.
"In view of the sudden surge of COViD cases in different countries, the Indian Medical Association alerts and appeals to the public to follow COVID appropriate behaviour with immediate effect. As per the available reports, nearly 5.37 lakhs new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours from major countries like the USA, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil. India has reported 145 new cases in last 24 hours, out of which four cases are the new China variant - BF.7," it said.
According to the advisory, the country is ready to manage any eventualities considering the robust infrastructure in the public and private sectors. The country also has dedicated medical manpower, proactive leadership support from the government and availability of sufficient medicines and vaccines, the advisory read.
The top doctor's body also advised Covid protocols, including face masks, social distancing and handwashing.
The IMA has also called on people to shun public gatherings like marriages and political or social meetings. It also urged citizens to avoid international travel and consult the doctor in case of any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, loose motions etc.
Ban on flights
Meanwhile, government sources have said that there is no decision yet on banning flights to and from China.
'We don't have any direct flights from China to India or from India to China but as of now, there is no such order issued to stop connecting flights to India which are arriving via China. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is an executing ministry, the final decision will come from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)," government sources told ANI.
The opposition has been demanding the stopping of all international flights from the country. Calling for the flight ban due to the potential for the emergence of a new variant of the virus. Congress leader Manish Tiwari tweeted that "India should think about restoring COVID-19 guidelines" as cases were increasing in the US, Japan and South Korea.
