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Omicron: No lockdown but GRAP measures to follow if cases rise, says Delhi Govt

The minister added that instead of lockdown, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) formulated by the Delhi Disaster Management Committee will be implemented to tackle the situation.

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New Delhi: The national capital will not go into lockdown again if the trajectory of the witnesses of the COVID-19 case surge amid the threat of Omicron variant, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain stated on Monday.

The minister added that instead of lockdown, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) formulated by the Delhi Disaster Management Committee will be implemented to tackle the situation.

“There is no possibility of lockdown at the moment. The Delhi government will implement GRAP measures if the cases of Covid-19 rise,” Jain said in a statement issued from his office.

Sharing information on the Omicron cases, Jain said that only one patient infected by the new variant has been confirmed so far and investigation on other suspects is underway.

“Delhi government is testing all the people coming from the countries affected by the Omicron variant. So far, a total of 27 people have been admitted to LNJP Hospital, out of which 17 people are positive and only one person has been confirmed to have Omicron variant and investigation is on for the rest of the people,” he added.

He also informed that all the patients have been admitted to LNJP hospital, a dedicated facility of the Delhi government to treat and isolate Omicron infected patients, and many among them are asymptomatic.

However, the minister cautioned everyone to remain alert and follow COVID appropriate behaviour given the high infectiousness of the variant.

“It (Omicron) spreads even faster than the Delta variant. So we need to be more careful. Face masks are the only shield to prevent every variant of the virus. Everyone must wear a mask and those who did not get the second dose of the vaccine should get it as soon as possible. Only then will we be able to face Corona firmly,” he appealed.

Jain also informed that around 94 per cent of the eligible population in Delhi has received the first dose of the vaccine and over 61 per cent have taken both shots.

The minister also said that the Centre should ban air travel from Omicron affected regions to control further spread in the country.

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had written a letter to the Center appealing to stop the flights coming from the countries affected by the Omicron variant for some time but the Central Government did not do so. Last time (during second wave) we appealed to the central government to stop the flights coming from abroad as soon as possible, but the central government delayed a lot in banning the flights coming from abroad, the result of which we have seen,” Jain complained.

The Centre must consider our appeal and stop the flights. This is the easiest and most efficient way to avoid the Omicron variant. Delhi receives the maximum number of flights from abroad, so Delhi is most at risk from this,” he added.

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