India has called for tougher screening and testing protocols for people coming from South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana where a new coronavirus variant has been detected that has multiple mutations.

In a letter addressed to the states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked them to send all samples of travellers returning positive results to designated genome sequencing laboratories. He also stated that the contacts of these international travellers should be closely tracked and tested according to the Health Ministry guidelines.

The letter stated that several cases of a COVID-19 variant - B.1.1.529 - have been identified in Botswana, South Africa and Honk Kong, and the variant has a significantly high number of mutations, thus having serious public health implications… (NDTV, November 25, 2021)