Goa CM to hold a meeting concerning the measures to combat Omicron

Goa CM Sawant has alerted the airport and railway authorities in this regard

Panaji: The globe is facing a new challenge to overcome the new variant of the COVID-19 virus- Omicron. Every state govt. has scheduled a meeting to take essential steps to fight against the virus. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will hold a meeting on Tuesday regarding the development of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

According to the officials, Chief Minister Sawant has informed the airport and railway authorities have been alerted in this regard.

Speaking to reporters, CM Mr Sawant said, "The state is adhering to Centre's guidelines over COVID-19. All precautions are being taken. A meeting with officials from Health and State administration is called on November 30 to discuss the issue. Airport-Railway stations have been alerted and have been asked to take precautions in wake of a new variant."

The new variant of the COVID-19 virus is listed as B.1.1.529 and renamed as Omicron by the WHO. It was first identified in South Africa this week, the strain has spread to nearby countries, including Botswana, where fully vaccinated people have been infected. In South Africa over 100 cases have been linked to this variant, with several more in Botswana.

Omicron has been red-flagged by scientists over an alarmingly high number of spike mutations that might make the virus more resistant to vaccines, increase transmissibility and lead to more severe symptoms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to stay alert against the new coronavirus variant Omicron.

Addressing media persons ahead of the beginning of the winter session, the Prime Minister said, "We have administered more than 100 crore doses of Covid vaccines during the challenging times of the pandemic. Now we are moving towards 150 crore doses. The news of the emergence of a new coronavirus variant makes us more alert. We all should stay alert by the new variant of COVID-19.