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Genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in India: Indian SARS-CoV-2
Genomics Consortium (INSACOG)
DBT along with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), ICMR, and CSIR, has issued updated guidelines and SOPs on genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in India – Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). INSACOG has been launched and coordinated by different departments and organisations. The strategy and roadmap of INSACOG have also been prepared. The overall aim of INSACOG is to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. The mandate of INSACOG has evolved with time and the focus has shifted from primarily tracking variants among international passengers to early detection of variants that may emerge within the country. In the present scenario, genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 has the following objectives:
1. Early detection of genomic variants of public health implication through sentinel surveillance
2. To determine the genomic variants in unusual events/trends (vaccine breakthrough, super spreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas, etc.)
3. To correlate the genome surveillance data with epidemiological data
4. To suggest public health actions based on the analysis of genomic and epidemiological surveillance data.
Website link:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ INSACOGGuidanceDocumentdated15July2021final.pdf
Guidelines for domestic travel (flight/train/ship/bus inter-state
travel) by MoH&FW
There is a declining trajectory of cases across the country after a peak in reported cases during mid-May as part of the second wave. With a view to facilitating inter-state travel, while observing required precautions, MoH&FW issued guidelines for domestic travel (flight/train/
VOL. IV ISSUE 10
VIGYAN PRASAR 10
COVID-19 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS IN INDIA