NEW DELHI: Raising concern over the spike in Covid-19 cases in some states, the Centre has advised Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and Mizoram to continue monitoring the spread of the infection and undertake required steps for prompt and effective management of the pandemic.
Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan called for the states to monitor clusters, intensify genome-sequencing, monitoring of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and influenza cases in hospitals and urged stricter vigil on the pandemic situation.
“There are a few states which are reporting a higher contribution to India’s cases and higher positivity. This ministry has advised all states/Union Territories to follow a risk-assessment based approach on the opening of economic and social activities without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” the health secretary wrote in a letter to these states.
Emphasising on the need to implement the five-fold strategy of test, track, treat, vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour, the Centre stressed on use of masks in crowded places. Bhushan suggested “monitoring of Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) & severe acute respiratory illness cases in all health facilities on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection”.
The Centre underlined the need to maintain strict watch and take pre-emptive measures in areas of concern to control any emerging spread of the infection.
“Testing and surveillance still remain important to track the virus, its spread and evolution,” he told states.
The health ministry also warned states against laxity and said it can nullify the gains in pandemic management so far.
