• Identification of new variants: Increasing testing can help in the early identification of new global variants of COVID-19. These variants might be more transmissible or cause more severe disease, and monitoring them is crucial to understand their impact and take necessary measures.
• Potential increase in cases: By ramping up testing, India can quickly identify and isolate individuals infected with new variants. This can prevent further spread and potential surge in cases, giving more time to implement control measures.
• Evidence-based decision-making: Regular testing and monitoring of variants provide crucial data to policymakers and health experts. This data helps in making informed decisions about public health interventions, including the need for stricter measures, vaccine selection, and deployment strategies.
• Preparing healthcare infrastructure: Identifying new variants early allows healthcare systems to prepare and allocate resources effectively. It helps in forecasting potential healthcare demands, ensuring sufficient hospital beds, oxygen supply, and critical care facilities are available.
• Effectiveness of vaccines: Monitoring global variants helps assess their impact on vaccine effectiveness. This information is critical for ongoing vaccination campaigns, ensuring the selection of appropriate vaccines, and potentially modifying the existing vaccines to maintain their efficacy.

Ramping up testing and monitoring new global variants is necessary for India to stay ahead of the virus, minimize its impact, and make informed decisions based on evolving scientific evidence.