PM seeks review of overseas travel, states tighten checks, Delhi wants flights stopped

In the light of growing concerns regarding the new Covid variant first detected in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked officials to review the lifting of international travel restrictions. A day earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the resumption of international scheduled commercial flights from December 15, after a 21-month gap.

The PM held a meeting Saturday morning with top Health Ministry officials, where he was briefed on the new variant Omicron and its characteristics, its impact in other countries, and its implications for India. In a statement, the PMO said Modi highlighted the need to monitor all international arrivals, with focus on countries identified as ‘at risk’.