India to keep scheduled international passenger flights suspended till January 31

India will keep scheduled international passenger flights suspended till January 31, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Thursday.

The decision was taken in the wake of rising concerns over the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

Less than a week after announcing the date, the Centre decided not to resume scheduled international flights from December 15.

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Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday asked states and Union Territories to ensure adequate buffer stock of the eight critical drugs used for clinical treatment of Covid-19 and advised them to review the readiness of hospitals to deal with any possible surge in cases.

Reviewing the public health preparedness for the Omicron variant and the progress of vaccination, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked governments to ensure that all health facilities have functional ventilators, PSA plants and oxygen concentrators.