Jharkhand health department on Thursday directed all district administrations to be alert for new Covid variant B4.7.

The letter from the additional chief secretary (health) Arun Kumar Singh, addressed to all the 24 deputy commissioners with copies to the civil surgeons, refers to the sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases reported from some countries such as Japan, USA, the Republic of Korea and China and lays emphasis on “monitoring the trends of existing variants” and directs to ensure whole genome sequencing of all positive cases through genome sequencing lab.

“This will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” the letter adds.

The letter also directs to “ensure as far as possible to send all positive cases to the genome sequencing lab at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi on a daily basis to have a better understanding of the circulating variant”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level virtual meeting on Thursday attended by Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, home minister Amit Shah, aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and top officials.

The government has asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers.