New Delhi/IBNS: The government on Wednesday advised people to wear masks in crowded places in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases in China, the US and Japan.

Alarmed by the coronavirus situation in China, the Centre also decided to hold weekly meetings to review the covid situation to build a strategy to avert a surge in India.

After the high-level meeting with top officials and experts on the Covid situation, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation."

NITI Aayog member VK Paul, who heads the national Covid-19 task force, said there is no need to panic and urged people to wear masks in crowded places. Adequate tests are being conducted, he added.

There is no change in the guidelines for international air travel yet, he said.

The government is looking at chalking up a strategy to block incoming cases at international and domestic airports, laying down guidelines for passengers travelling from abroad, and consulting with experts on the new variant of Covid.

Further, the strategy to curb the spread also includes Indian travellers returning from abroad and prevention protocols for the New Year celebrations.

Samples of all Covid positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories, the government has said.

"ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants," read a letter from Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to all states.

"Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same," Bhushan wrote.

China is currently struggling to contain the sharp rise in coronavirus cases after an abrupt shift from a Zero-Covid policy that imposed strict lockdowns and mass testing to an unrestrained movement of people.