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Amid a surge of 6,800+ COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, RT-PCR tests are now mandatory for all ministers before meeting PM Modi to curb virus spread
In light of a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases across India, the central government has issued a fresh health advisory making RT-PCR tests mandatory for all ministers and key officials before they can meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move comes after a sharp rise in daily infections, with the latest health data showing over 6,800 new cases in the past 24 hours—a significant uptick compared to the previous weeks.
This proactive step is seen as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the Prime Minister and other top-level government functionaries amid rising concern about the spread of a new Omicron sub-variant, known as XFG, which has been detected in several states.
According to senior officials at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the mandatory RT-PCR requirement will apply to all Union Ministers, Secretaries, and high-level dignitaries scheduled for in-person meetings with the PM. Officials will also be required to present a negative test report not older than 24 hours.
Additional protocols are also being reintroduced at key government premises, including:
- Temperature checks at entry points
- Mandatory face masks within the PMO and other key buildings
- Frequent sanitization of meeting rooms
- Limitation of in-person meetings to essential cases only
Sources within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirm that the advisory has been issued in light of updated data that shows active COVID-19 cases nearing 28,000 nationwide, with hotspots emerging in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
The spike in infections is being linked primarily to the emergence of the XFG variant, a recombinant lineage of the Omicron family. Though health experts indicate that the XFG strain is not more lethal, it is notably more transmissible, and appears to evade existing immunity from previous infections or vaccines in some cases.
As of June 10, 2025, over 160 confirmed cases of the XFG variant have been reported in India, with states like Maharashtra (47), Gujarat (39), and Tamil Nadu (26) leading the tally. Public health authorities are urging increased genomic surveillance and COVID-appropriate behavior to prevent further escalation.
The decision to enforce COVID-19 testing for ministers has garnered mixed reactions.
While some have praised the government’s efforts to prioritize safety at the highest levels of leadership, others questioned whether more stringent measures should also apply to large public gatherings, political rallies, and Parliament sessions.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh commented, “It’s good that precautionary measures are being taken for those around the Prime Minister. But what about the thousands gathering at election rallies? COVID doesn’t discriminate.”
Meanwhile, the BJP defended the directive, stating it was a “necessary and science-backed measure” to prevent disruption in governance.
Hospitals in cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai have been placed on high alert, with isolation wards being reopened and staffing levels reviewed. The central government has also directed states to ramp up testing, resume contact tracing, and accelerate the booster vaccination drive, especially for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
According to CoWIN portal data, booster dose registrations have risen by nearly 15% in the last 72 hours. Health authorities are also urging people to wear masks in crowded indoor areas, even though mask mandates have not yet been reimposed.
The mandatory RT-PCR testing for ministers before meeting Prime Minister Modi underscores the government’s renewed focus on containing the spread of COVID-19 amid a growing wave of infections. While the XFG variant has so far not resulted in severe illness or hospitalizations on a large scale, the rising case count is a stark reminder that the pandemic is not entirely over.
As India battles to contain this fresh surge, health experts and policymakers continue to emphasize the importance of testing, masking, vaccination, and public awareness to prevent a repeat of previous waves.
