by Nidhi Verma
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told authorities on Saturday to review plans to ease travel restrictions in the country as concerns rise over the new omicron variant of Covid-19.
The second country most affected by the pandemic had decided on Friday to resume international flights from countries considered “at risk” by the coronavirus, while ordering border controls.
But after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new variant to be “worrying”, Modi “highlighted the need to monitor all international arrivals, testing them according to guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified as ‘ at risk,’” the government said in a statement after Modi met with officials to review the situation.
WHO said the omicron, initially detected in South Africa, could spread faster than other variants.
This week, India registered the smallest increase in new cases for a year and a half amid rising vaccinations. The number of daily cases in the country has halved since September, with 8,318 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.
But the new variant has raised global alarms and startled financial markets.
Modi said people should be more cautious and take due care, such as wearing masks and performing social distance.
He “spoke about the need to be proactive in light of the new variant,” the statement said.
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