COVID cases India: Centre urges states to take pre-emptive action in any area of concern

As COVID-19 cases in India are on the rise, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, through a letter on Friday, asked eight states to remain vigilant and take pre-emptive action in any area of concern to control any emerging spread of infection.

In the letter, the Union Health Secretary has urged the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana and Delhi to remain cautious against laxity at any level, saying that may nullify the gains made in pandemic management so far.

Since March, the country has been constantly witnessing an increase in COVID-19 cases, with 10,262 instances reported in the week ending April 20. Positiveness has also increased across the country, with 5.5 percent reported in the week ending April 19 compared to 4.7 per cent last week, according to Bhushan.

"This is a cause of concern," he added.

Also read: Covid cases in India today, April 21: 11,692 new coronavirus cases recorded in last 24 hours; active cases climb to 66,170 

While the rates of hospitalisation and deaths due to COVID-19 have remained low, states or districts reporting higher number of cases may indicate a possible localised spread of infection, thus necessitating a closer look at these states or districts (high daily cases and/or high test positivity rates) and the need to institute requisite public health measures to control and contain such surges in the initial stages, he said.

"It is also critical to ensure timely and regular updating of data to assist in accurate monitoring of the situation. It is essential that 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.

While the five-fold strategy for the control of the COVDI-19 pandemic - Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID-19-appropriate behaviour - remains the time-tested approach, it is critical for the state health departments to institute prompt and effective public health measures with a key focus on 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 on a regular basis, and ensuring its reporting through the IDSP-IHIP network, he said.

He also urged them to focus on maintaining adequate levels of testing (especially in emerging hotspots, ILI, and SARI cases) in all the districts while maintaining the recommended share of RT-PCR and Antigen tests.

The focus should be in areas reporting high case positivity and new clusters of cases, Bhushan said and he 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 availability of essential drugs and equipment and adequately trained manpower. Adequate financial support has already been provided to all states under various financial packages and PM-ABHIM.

They have been further asked to encourage uptake of precaution 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.

(with PTI inputs)

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