<span style="color: #222222;">Centre has asked all States and Union Territories for rigorous screening and testing of all international arrivals in view of the emergence of highly mutant COVID-19 variant. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written a letter to all the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of States and Union Territories in this regard.<br />''<br />''He said, the contacts of these international travelers must also be closely tracked and tested as per Health Ministry guidelines and the samples of travelers turning positive are sent to the designated Genome Sequencing Laboratories promptly.<br />''<br />''Mr Bhalla said, State Surveillance Officers must also establish a close coordination with their designated laboratories for expediting results of genomic analysis. He said, States and UTs should immediately undertake necessary public health measures, in case presence of variants of concern is reported.</span><br />