China's New COVID-19 Variant and What the Indian Government Can Do to Prevent It from Entering the Country
China is currently grappling with a fresh surge of COVID-19 infections, driven by a newly identified variant of the virus called XBB. This variant, a subvariant of Omicron, is believed to be highly transmissible and more resistant to vaccines compared to previous strains. The Indian government has expressed concerns regarding the potential entry of the XBB variant into the country. While certain measures have already been implemented, such as increased testing, contact tracing, and travel restrictions, more decisive actions need to be taken to safeguard against the introduction of the XBB variant. Outlined below are key steps the Indian government can undertake to prevent the entry of the XBB variant into India: 1 . Increase border security : Enhancing border security is paramount to prevent the infiltration of the XBB variant through illegal means. Strengthening the number of border guards and checkpoints, as well as leveraging technology for border surveillance, can aid in curbi...