Covid-19: Union Health Minister Mandaviya directs officials to boost surveillance of new XE variant

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya, on Tuesday, 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.

On the medical infrastructure and resources front, Mandaviya directed officials to constantly review the availability of essential drugs and medicines required for Covid treatment. He further emphasized that the ongoing vaccination drive must be carried out at full pace and all eligible should be vaccinated.

The meeting was attended by V.K. Paul, member, Health, NITI Ayog, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health, Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR, N K Arora, NTAGI and other senior officials of the Health Ministry were also present in the meeting.

The new sub-variant XE is just a subtype of Omicron. Strains of Omicron- BA.1 and BA.2, both mutated into the new variant. In the case of XE, it contains a mix of the previously highly infectious omicron BA.1 strain, and the newer BA.2 variant.