ALSO READ: Amid Covid surge, see state-wise precautions taken to keep infections in check In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills.
Officials have also been urged to identify emergency hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection cases, ramping up testing and vaccination, and ensuring readiness of hospital infrastructure.
The World Health Organization is currently tracking a variant of interest, XBB.1.5, and monitoring six other variants (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16).
During the review meeting it was also highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape.