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Srinagar, Nov 27 : Prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired an important meeting on the Covid-19 situation and vaccination drive in the country amid concerns over new variant Omicron.

Reports reaching said that PM Modi chaired the meeting with top government officials to take stock of Covid-19 situation and vaccination drive across the country.

They said that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to PM, PK Mishra, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan & NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul were among those who attended the meeting.

Notably, the WHO described the strain, which was first announced by scientists in South Africa, as highly transmissible, prompting several countries, including India, to impose restrictions on travel from affected regions.

Omicron, which it has been named, could potentially be more dangerous than the Delta variant. It has so far been reported in South Africa, Hong Kong, Botswana, Israel and Belgium.

In view of the fast-spreading variant, the central government has directed states to aggressively test and screen international travellers from South Africa and other at risk countries. (KNS)