The Centre has asked six states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka — to adopt a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 infections. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan sent a letter to the states advising them to examine the situation of COVID-19 at a micro-level and maintain focus on the implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of the disease, reported news agency PTI.
He emphasised that the states should ensure effective compliance with various advisories issued by the Ministry of Health and keep a strict watch on the situation.
India has seen a significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases during the past few months. However, the past few weeks have seen a rise in cases, particularly in certain parts of the country. A total of 2,082 cases were reported in the week ending March 8, rising to 3,264 cases in the week ending March 15. Bhushan noted that there is a need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic.
The Union Health Ministry's data updated on Thursday morning showed that over 700 Covid cases were recorded in 24 hours after a gap of more than four months. The active caseload also rose to 4,623.
According to PTI, Bhushan stressed the importance of monitoring new and emerging clusters of new COVID-19 cases, influenza-like illness (ILI), and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases in all health facilities or through dedicated fever clinics on a regular basis. This is necessary to detect early warning signals of the spread of infection. He also emphasised the importance of genomic sequencing for prescribed samples of international passengers, collection of samples from sentinel sites (identified health facilities), and local clusters of cases. Proactive promotion is needed to increase administration of precaution doses for all eligible beneficiaries, and people must follow Covid-appropriate behaviour particularly in enclosed spaces and crowded spaces.
Bhushan advised the states to take pre-emptive action if required in any areas of concern to control the emerging spread of infection. Maharashtra has reported an increase in weekly cases from 355 in the week ending March 8 to 668 in the week ending March 15, with a positivity rate of 1.92 per cent, which is higher than India's positivity rate of 0.61 per cent during the same period. Gujarat has reported an increase in weekly cases from 105 to 279, with a positivity rate of 1.11 per cent in the week ending March 15. Telangana has reported an increase in weekly cases from 132 to 267, with a positivity rate of 0.31 per cent in the week ending March 15. Tamil Nadu has reported an increase in weekly cases from 170 to 258, with a positivity rate of 1.99 per cent in the week ending March 15. Kerala has reported an increase in weekly cases from 434 to 579, with a positivity rate of 2.64 per cent in the week ending March 15. Karnataka has reported an increase in weekly cases from 493 to 604, with a positivity rate of 2.77 per cent in the week ending March 15.
The Centre has asked these states to take necessary measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 infections. It is important for the states to follow a risk assessment-based approach to ensure effective management of the disease. The situation must be monitored at a micro-level to detect early warning signals of the spread of infection. People must follow Covid-appropriate behaviour to prevent the spread of infection. It is necessary for the states to take pre-emptive action if required in any areas of concern to control the emerging spread of infection.