Coronavirus updates: Union health secretary meets states to discuss COVID-19 preparedness

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan's meeting with states to discuss the COVID-19 situation ended on Monday evening.

In the meeting, the current status of health infrastructure and progress in COVID-19 vaccination in different states were discussed. 

Some of the major issues raised in the meeting were to increase the number of COVID-19 testing and positive samples' genome sequencing.  

States have been asked to strengthen surveillance with focus on whole genome sequencing of positive samples, and increase testing with higher proportion of RT-PCR tests.

The health secretary has asked the states to conduct mock drills to ensure operational readiness of their hospitals, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators, and human resources. 

Bhushan has also ordered states to follow the Test-Track-Treat and Vaccinate policies to spread awareness about the COVID-19 disease and ask people to follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour.    

Delhi registers 115 fresh COVID-19 cases

Health secretary met states at a time when COVID-19 is rapidly increasing all across the country. 

Just in Delhi, 115 fresh COVID-19 cases were registered on Monday with a positivity rate of 7.45 per cent, according to data shared by the health department.

On Sunday, Delhi registered 153 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 9.13.

The city recorded 139 cases with a positivity rate of 4.98 per cent on Saturday; 152 cases with a positivity rate of 6.66 per cent on Friday; and 117 cases with a positivity rate of 4.95 per cent on Thursday.

Last five days are also the first time when COVID-19 cases in three-digit figures have been recorded since last October.

Delhi has seen an increase in the number of fresh COVID-19 cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

The number of fresh cases had seen a decline over the past few months in Delhi. It had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the pandemic began ravaging countries.

With the fresh cases, the national capital's COVID-19 tally has increased to 20,08,847, while the death toll stands at 26,524.

(With inputs from PTI)