Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will lead a Covid review meeting with the core team of specialists on Thursday, according to reports. Sources from ANI have also verified that the meeting will take place in person in the afternoon.
Previously, on June 13, Mandaviya presided over a video conference with Health Ministers and top officials from States and Union Territories (UTs) to examine the success of the immunisation campaign HarGharDastak 2.0.
“COVID is not over yet. There are reports of rising cases of COVID in some states. It is important at this time to be alert and not forget COVID Appropriate behaviour (CAB) such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance to prevent the spread of the infection,” he had stressed.
Mandaviya added that expanded and timely testing will enable early detection of COVID patients and assist to prevent the spread of the illness among the population, citing higher case positive in various districts and States and lower COVID-19 testing.
He had asked states and universities to maintain and expand monitoring while focusing on genome sequencing to find novel mutants/variants in the country.
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He added that States/UTs must maintain and monitor the five-pronged strategy of Test, Track, Treat, Vaccination, and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB).
States were also asked to prioritise the implementation of the COVID-19 Operational Guidelines for Revised Monitoring Strategy, which focuses on surveillance of incoming foreign travellers as well as surveillance through health institutions, labs, and communities.
Stressing on the importance of COVID vaccination among the vulnerable age groups, he urged the State Health Ministers to personally review the status and progress of the special month-long drive Har Ghar Dastak 2.0 campaign which started on June 1.
“Let us accelerate our efforts to identify all beneficiaries in the 12-17 age group for the first and second doses, so they can attend schools with the protection of the vaccine,” the health minister had said.
He had urged States for focussed coverage of 12-17 age groups through school-based campaigns (Government/Private/ informal Schools like Madrasas, Day Care Schools), along with targeted coverage of non-school-going children during the summer vacation.
He added that the population group of above 60 years of age is a vulnerable category and needs to be protected with the precaution dose.
“Our healthcare workers are going door-to-door to ensure that the vulnerable population is administered the precaution dose”, he said.
The States Health Ministers were urged to also review the administration of precaution doses to the 18-59 years age group with the private hospitals on a regular basis.
He said that we can utilize the learning from the first Har Ghar Dastak campaign to achieve 100 per cent coverage among the eligible population for ensuring extended protection against COVID.
“Adequate vaccine doses are available across the country. Let us ensure accelerated coverage of COVID vaccination during the second phase of the Har Ghar Dastak campaign,” he had stressed.
Latest Covid numbers
Meanwhile, India reported 13,313 new COVID-19 infections and 38 deaths in a 24-hour span, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The latest updates pushed the country’s overall COVID-19 numbers to 4,33,44,958 cases, 5,24,941 deaths and 83,990 active cases, the data showed.
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