In the backdrop of the spread of new COVID-19 variant ‘Omicron’ across the country, the central government has issued some instructions to the states and union territories.

In his letter to the states, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated that the virus is three times more contagious than the delta, and states need to set up war rooms and impose night curfews if needed to curb it in a timely manner.

Bhushan has instructed the states to be vigilant about large gatherings in view of the coming festival , limit the number of people for weddings and funerals, review the use of infrastructure at district level, etc.

It may be noted that ,so far 65 Omicron cases were spotted from different parts of the Maharashtra state mostly returning from different foreign countries. Of them 34 were cured, said health sources.