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Increased infection numbers in China and several other countries in Asia have led India to increase controls and warn against taking the risks of a new wave of infections too lightly.
Two percent of everyone flying to India will be tested for covid as of Thursday. The spot tests for international travelers to the country’s airports are the most tangible measure the government is taking after the number of infections increased in Asia.
However, there are still no plans to stop flights from countries where the infection is spreading.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat in a specially convened meeting about the spread of the infection. After the meeting, he warns against taking the alarm too lightly and has asked the Ministry of Health to produce a list of measures that can be easily implemented.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is asking the local regional governments to be aware of increases in infections and to investigate possible new variants of the virus.
He urges the population to take more doses of vaccine, use mouthguards and keep their distance, even though the government does not yet want to make mouthguards mandatory.
– Especially now, in view of the upcoming festivities and New Year’s celebrations, it is important to think about mouth protection and to take care of hygiene, he says.
India eased its covid restrictions earlier this year after the number of cases fell sharply. Officially, 3,400 people are currently infected throughout the country.
India was hit hard by the second wave of the pandemic, with a peak in May 2021 when more than 3,700 people a day died as a result of the virus.