By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told officials on Saturday to review plans to ease travel restrictions as concerns rise over the new Omicron https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japan-tighten-border-controls-s-africa-others-new-virus-variant-jiji-2021-11-26 variant of COVID-19.

The world’s second-worst affected country by the pandemic had only Friday decided to resume https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-tighten-covid-19-testing-tourists-amid-new-variant-concerns-2021-11-26 international passenger flights from countries deemed “at risk” of the coronavirus, while ordering tightened border screening.

Modi said that the World Health Organization (WHO), having declared this new variant “of concern”, “highlighted” the necessity for international monitoring, testing, and a focus on countries deemed ‘at-risk,” after meeting with officials to discuss the COVID-19 situation.

Omicron may be more easily spread than other forms of Omicron.

India saw the lowest increase in cases this week due to an increased number of vaccinations.

Since September, the nation has seen a halving of its daily caseload. The nation reported 8,318 cases within the last 24 hours.

However, the latest variant of the virus, which has spike proteins that are dramatically different than the coronavirus vaccines were based upon, has raised concerns worldwide.

Modi stressed that everyone should exercise caution and be careful, and to use social distancing and masks.

The statement stated that he “spoke on the need to act proactive in light the new variant.”

He directed that active surveillance and intensive containment should be continued in the clusters reporting more cases, and that technical assistance be given to those states reporting more cases.

Modi asked officials for second-dose coverage acceleration, the statement said.