New BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron in India, guidelines issued for wearing mask

The concern of the health department has increased after the emergence of a new and highly contagious sub-variant of the Omicron variant of the corona virus. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a meeting with senior health officials on Tuesday to consider the changing situation. Sources said that it was decided in the meeting that wearing of masks and corona-appropriate behavior would continue in the country. 

According to the sources also scientists, doctors and senior officials have also recommended increased surveillance and genome sequencing. NITI Aayog member (Health) VK Pal, Chairman of the Working Group on Corona (NTAGI) NK Arora and other senior health officials were present in the meeting. The case of Omicron's sub-variant BF.7 has come to the fore in Gujrat. All these variants are said to be highly contagious. However, scientists also say that not much data has been found about it yet. 

Corona explosion in Singapore due to new variant

Earlier, cases of BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 variants of Omicron have been reported in Maharashtra. Cases of Omicron's XBB sub variant have also been found in Maharashtra. Its cases have also been found in Kerala. Due to all these variants, an increase of 17.7 percent has been registered in the cases of corona virus in Maharashtra this week as compared to last week. XBB is a combination of Omicron's BJ.1 and BA.2.75 which spreads very quickly. Due to this variant, there was an explosion in corona cases in Singapore recently. Recently in the US, the BQ.1 variant has been found in 60 percent of corona cases.