Amid reports of new COVID variant, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday (Nov 23) issued an advisory for all states and union territories. The ministry has advised rigorous screening and testing of international travelers coming or transiting through Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, where several cases of a new variant of Covid-19 were reported.

The new variant called the ‘B.1.1.529’ is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations.

Speaking on the same, the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Chief, Rama Raman Mohanty informed that restrictions will be imposed in Odisha as per the advisory.