COVID-19: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Holds Review Meeting With Officials, Experts On New 'XE' Variant

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday (12 April) chaired a meeting with the key experts and officials of the country on the new ‘XE' variant of COVID-19.

While reviewing the cases of COVID-19 in the country, he directed the officials to boost ongoing monitoring and surveillance of new variants and cases, a Health Ministry release said on Tuesday.

On the medical infrastructure and resources front, Mandaviya directed officials to constantly review the availability of essential drugs and medicines required for COVID treatment.

The meeting was attended by NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, AIIMS director Dr Randip Guleria, ICMR DG Dr Balrama Bhargava, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chief Dr N K Arora, and other senior officials of the ministry were also present in the meeting.

It should be noted that the XE variant is combination of two most prevalent Omicron strains - BA1 and BA2, which makes it even more infectious than Omicron.