Covid Curbs: UP CM Asks Team-9 To Conduct Genome Sequencing Of Every Positive Case — Details

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told officials to create awareness about mask usage in crowded and public spaces.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday held a meeting with Team-9 officials, a team of senior officials and ministers constituted for Covid-19 management, over the Coronavirus situation in the state.

He told officials to create awareness about mask usage in crowded and public spaces. He instructed them to conduct genome sequencing of every positive case and also told them to increase the pace of Covid testing and precautionary doses, news agency ANI reported.

"It is possible that there may be an increase in new cases in the coming days, so we have to be alert. This is not the time to panic, but to be alert and careful," he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

According to an official statement, the Chief Minister during the meeting directed officials to reactivate the Integrated Covid Command and Control Room (ICCC) and also activate the public address system.

The release mentioned that the situation remains under control in Uttar Pradesh and the Covid positivity rate in December has been 0.01 per cent. 

The state currently has 62 active cases with no new infection being reported from 27,208 tests conducted in a 24-hour span. During the same period, 33 people recovered from the infection, it added.

CM Adityanath asked officials to maintain constant communication with the Union Health Ministry.

"The new variant of Covid-19 should be continuously monitored. Whatever new cases are found, their genome sequencing should be done. Daily testing should be increased. People suffering from serious, incurable diseases, and the elderly will have to take special precautions,"  he said, as per PTI.

In accordance with the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of "Jahan Bimar, Wahin Upchar" (providing sick people treatment closer to their homes), cooperation of village heads, Asha and Anganwadi workers should be taken to bolster the state's Covid response, he emphasised.  "In the midst of Covid, large-scale work was done for the infrastructure development of the hospitals. ICUs, ventilators, and specialist doctors were deployed in every district. Ensure the functioning of medical equipment, proper availability of doctors, and paramedical staff in all hospitals. Be it rural or urban areas, every hospital should have adequate resources," Adityanath added.

The works of the department should be reviewed at the health minister level, the Chief Minister noted.

The statement said that Uttar Pradesh is the most vaccinated state with about 39.06 crore doses given so far and 4.48 crore precaution doses have also been administered.

In view of the new variant of coronavirus, the delivery of precaution doses should be expedited and people should be made aware about its utility, the statement mentioned.

Omicron Subvariant BF.7

This comes as four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7, the strain behind China's current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India. As per PTI, two cases have been detected in Gujarat and two in Odisha. In Gujarat, both the patients, who had foreign travel history, have recovered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the situation related to Covid and related aspects in the country at a high-level meeting on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.

Covid-19 is not over yet, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday as the government sounded an alert following a surge of coronavirus cases in neighbouring China and other countries.

Random sample testing would be conducted at airports for passengers arriving from China and other countries.

The new Omicron subvariant BF.7 is known to spread very fast and has a shorter incubation period.

(With Agency Inputs)