‘No Room For Complacency’: Centre Tells States After Record 2.5 Cr COVID Vaccinations

With the festival season approaching, states have been directed to ensure all necessary precautions and effective enforcement for avoidance of mass gathering amid COVID pandemic. 

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Saturday told states that there is no room for complacency in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic after he congratulated them on the landmark achievement of more than 2.5 crore vaccine doses administered yesterday.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a high-level meeting to review and discuss the COVID management and response strategy through video conference in the presence of Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary and Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Union health ministry informed in a release. 

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries (Health), Principal Secretaries (Health), Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors and other senior officials of states and UTs.

Congratulating the states/UTs for the landmark achievement of more than 2.5 crore vaccine doses administered on the occasion of PM Modi’s birthday, Cabinet Secretary appreciated healthcare workers, Chief Medical Officers, District Magistrates and State Health Secretaries for their efforts. 

He also expressed hope that with increased availability of vaccine doses, the pace of vaccination will be maintained.

However, Rajesh Bhushan also reminded the officials that there is no room for complacency, emphasising on the need to strictly enforce COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB).

He cited examples from other countries that saw multiple peaks of COVID-19 and expressed concern over certain pockets in the country reporting high test positivity. 

COVID Precautions For Festive Season

The State Health administrators have been advised to “undertake granular analysis of their COVID trajectory, ramp up their Health Infrastructure, undertake stocking of essential medicine and augment Human Resources at the earliest, to meet any potential surge in cases”, the health ministry release stated.

The Union Health Secretary pointed out that 70 districts in 15 states are a cause of concern as 34 of these districts have positivity exceeding 10 per cent and in 36 districts, the positivity is in the range of 5 per cent to 10 per cent. 

With the festival season approaching, states have been directed to ensure all necessary precautions and effective enforcement for the avoidance of mass gathering and congested closed spaces. 

“Existing guidelines regarding malls, local markets, and places of worship are to be strictly followed. states were urged to undertake effective IEC for promotion of COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and COVID safe festivities. They were advised to closely monitor the case trajectories in all districts on a daily basis to identify early warning signals and ensure imposition of restrictions and adherence to CAB,” the health ministry stated.

“It was noted that urgent action on augmentation of hospital infrastructure, Oxygen availability, building up buffer stocks of critical drugs, Ambulance services and implementation of IT systems/ helplines/ telemedicine services is required,” it added. 

The Health Secretary spoke about funds released to all states/ UTs under Emergency COVID Response Package that should be promptly and optimally utilised.

As per the health ministry, in efforts to avert any new upsurge, the State authorities have been urged to focus on:

• Compliance with COVID-appropriate behavior and observance of COVID-safe festivities.
• Implementing intensive containment and active surveillance in clusters reporting high cases and not delay imposition of restrictions.
• Increased testing while maintaining RT-PCR ratio.
• Prompt commissioning of PSA plants, oxygen cylinders, concentrators & ventilators.
• Monitor infection spread in children considering that few states have opened schools.
• Monitor breakthrough infections post-vaccination and analyze the emerging evidence.
• Monitor mutations including sending sufficient samples for genome sequencing.
• Accelerate speed and coverage of vaccination.
• Take necessary measures for prevention and control of Dengue and other vector-borne diseases.