The meeting was chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu during which he reviewed the preparedness and gave instructions to the District Collectors and other top officials.

The variant was first reported from South Africa on November 24 and the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it as a Variant of Concern.

As the sequel of the emergence of the new variant, several countries have initiated measures to stay alert and vigil and to curb the influx of the menace into their respective territories.