Covid-19 patients infected with Omicron variant should only be treated in designated Covid facilities with separate isolation areas, said a latest advisory note from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The ministry has also advised states that these hospitals  have to ensure that no cross infection takes place and adequate precautions are taken by healthcare workers in these facilities to prevent transmission among other patients and healthcare workers. The advisory was issued in the wake of increasing cases of infection by this highly contagious virus variant.  Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and union territories (UTs) to regularly review and ensure that samples of positive cases of international travellers and their contacts as well as from emerging hot spots are promptly submitted to INSACOG labs for genome sequencing according to protocol.