Speaking to media, Dr. VK Paul claimed that the new variant does not cause serious illness and the 16 deaths which have been reported in the last week were the people with serious comorbidities

"We must remember that Covid-19 has not gone till now, and the people need to be a little vigilant. The government needs to be prepared for everything and hence, the government is continuously focusing on the sequencing and surveillance work," he added

"Centre has requested all states to increase the tests and make the citizens aware of the protocols. There is no need to panic because we all have been vaccinated," Paul said

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the state health ministry has had a conversation with the the Union Health Ministry over the rising number of cases and the state has been advised to maintain the essential health services

"This variant has been here for around four months now and there is no need to panic. Karnataka is the highest right now in the whole country in number of tests," Gundu Rao said

Earlier on Wednesday, amid rising Covid-19 cases in five states -- Kerala, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday with top officials and chief health secretaries

"There should be no laxity in our preparedness. There is no room for politics when it comes to public health. The Union Health ministry is available for every support," he said