COVID-19: Union Health Minister To Hold Review Meeting With Southern States & UTs

The meeting is likely to be attended by Health Ministers and health secretaries of states and UTs.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya | Credit: PIB

Chennai: The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a virtual review meeting with Health Ministers of southern states and union territories to learn about the current coronavirus situation and the preparedness measures taken against the Omicron variant of novel coronavirus on Friday at 2.30 pm. 

According to a report on ANI, the meet will be held for health ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. It is also likely to be attended by health secretaries and other senior health officials. 

Ahead of the meeting with southern states, the Minister held a meet with nine northern states and Union Territories. During the meeting, the Minister advised the states to timely send COVID-19 testing and vaccination data. He also insisted on ramping up the tests in states where the testings were reduced.

The Minister also requested to ramp up the RTPCR tests in the states that showed a lower share of the test.

The Minister told the states and UTs to effectively monitor the persons' in-home quarantine in line with national guidelines. They were also told to keep a watch on the new clusters and hotspots. 

'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' continue to remain crucial for COVID management, he said.

On the technological ways to handle the pandemic, the states and UTs should adopt a model for teleconsultations so that the people can get advice from experts, he said adding, eSanjeevani had also been providing services to over 2.6 crore people across the country with regards to medical advice from their own homes.