‘No Sign Of More Transmissible Variant’: Govt Reviews Covid-19 Spike In Kerala, TN, Maha, Karnataka
Amid a Covid-19 case surge in states like Kerala and Maharashtra, the Union Health Secretary reviewed the situation, emphasising existing surveillance systems.
Amid a significant surge in Covid cases, the matter regarding it was reviewed by the Union Health Secretary today with the Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) & Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), DGHS, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), among others. Some Covid-19 cases have been reported mainly from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, among others.
According to sources in the Health Ministry, there is a robust pan-India system for surveillance of respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19 through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR’s pan-India respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network. Most of the cases are mild and under home care.
The sources in the ministry further mentioned that there have been some media reports regarding increase in Covid 19 cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries in the recent past. It has been ascertained from the respective National IHR focal points that there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to the previously circulating variants, the source further added.
“The Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and through its multiple agencies, is proactively monitoring the situation closely,” the source further added.
No Need To Panic: Doctors
The doctors in the national capital have advised people not to panic over the COVID-19 cases linked to the JN.1 variant, saying the strain is not severe and most patients have only reported mild symptoms. All 23 recent Covid-19 patients in Delhi experienced only mild symptoms and were under home quarantine, said the health officials in the Delhi government. Of them, 22 were recovering at home and none required hospitalisation.
Following the recent government advisory, several hospitals in the city have started preparing by arranging oxygen cylinders, antibiotics, other essential drugs, BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machines, vaccines, ventilators and additional isolation beds as part of precautionary measures. However, there have been no fresh cases reported so far.
(With inputs from Madiha Khan, PTI)
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