With rising concerns over the rapid spread of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country, Tripura government has announced that it has decided to start whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the state itself.
WGS services will begin in Tripura at the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBPH) in Agartala from February next year.
This decision of the Tripura government was announced by state minister Sushanta Chowdhury.
“The WGS is vital for detecting Omicron cases. Tripura currently do not have this facility. Samples are being sent to KNIBMS in West Bengal for genome sequencing. However, the Tripura health department is taking steps to start this system at the GBP Hospital in Agartala by February next year,” said Sushanta Chowdhury.
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Tripura, thus far, has not reported any COVID-19 case of the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, the Tripura government has announced that it will enforce strict anti-COVID measures from January 1 next year.
Notably, the Centre had instructed all the states and union territories to increase surveillance and enforce anti-COVID measures to check spread of Omicron.
“Measures like mandatory use of face masks, handwash in public places, crowd management and social distancing norms will once again be strictly enforced in the state from January 1,” said Tripura minister Sushanta Chowdhury.
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Chowdhury further said: “These are some of the basic COVID-19 protocols that were not adhered to in the past six months.”