New Delhi: Even as Covid-19 cases across the country are rising, the Centre on Friday (April 21) asked eight states to keep a firm watch and vigil and take pre-emptive actions against areas of concern to control rising infection.
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In a letter to Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, and Delhi – states with the highest number of daily coronavirus cases, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has urged to maintain caution at all levels so that there are no gaps that nullify the gains made in pandemic management so far.
India has been witnessing a steady rise in the number of Covid cases since the end of February, with 10,262 cases reported in the week ending April 20. There has also been a considerable rise in the positivity rate across the country, with 5.5 per cent positivity reported in the week ending April 19 against 4.7 per cent reported in the previous week, Bhushan said.
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Even though the rates of hospitalisation and fatalities have remained how, many states have been reporting higher numbers of cases, indicating instances of the possible localized spread of infection.
“It is also critical to ensure timely and regular updating of data to assist in accurate monitoring of the situation. The State must maintain a strict watch and take preemptive action if required in any area of concern to control any emerging spread of infection. Regular monitoring and follow-up action are crucial,” Bhushan said
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He added that while the five-fold strategy for control of the pandemic – Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour – remains the time-tested approach, the state health departments must institute prompt and effective public health measures with a key focus on the aspects such as strengthening Covid surveillance in all districts and monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and SARI cases in all sentinel surveillance sites regularly and ensure its reporting through IDSP-IHIP network, he said.
Bushan has advised there is a need for them to focus on maintaining adequate levels of testing, especially in the infection hotspots in all the areas while maintaining the recommended share of RT-PCR and Antigen tests.
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The focus should be on areas reporting high case positivity and new clusters of cases, Bhushan said and asked them to increase the number of Covid-positive samples sent for Whole Genomic Sequencing through the INSACOG network of laboratories, especially from any new clusters of cases detected in the community.
States have also been asked to ensure operational readiness and adequate strengthening of hospital infrastructure, especially at the sub-district levels in terms of the availability of essential drugs and equipment and adequately trained manpower.
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They have been further asked to encourage the uptake of precautionary doses among eligible beneficiaries while countering vaccine hesitancy through community awareness and improve community awareness to encourage early reporting of symptoms and testing as well as adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviours, particularly in terms of avoiding overcrowded or poorly ventilated settings and use of masks in such settings.
It has also been noted that 11 districts across the country have reported positivity rate higher than 10 per cent.
