Centre writes to States/UT over rising COVID cases; stresses on five-fold strategy

The Centre wrote to six states and the Union Territory of Delhi on Saturday, ordering them to provide proper testing, encourage COVID-appropriate behaviour, and accelerate immunisation in order to limit the spread of viral illness quickly and effectively. The letters were issued to the State Health Secretaries of Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana in response to reports of a large number of COVID cases and a high positive rate.

According to the Health Secretary, the following months will likely see significant crowds as a result of numerous events being conducted around the nation, resulting in a high number of people travelling intra and interstate.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ordered states to increase testing while maintaining the appropriate percentage of RTPCR antigen tests. The states are recommended to implement a five-pronged plan of testing, tracking, treatment, immunisation, and adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour within the country.

In his letter to States, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “The states should aim to increase the pace of vaccination for all eligible population and accelerate the administration of free precaution doses for 18+ eligible population at all government vaccination centres under the covid vaccination under Amrit Mahotsav till September 30.”

Mentioning genome sequencing, the official said, “Genome sequence of prescribed samples of international passengers as well as a collection of samples from sentinel sites identified health facilities) and local clusters of new COVID-19 cases is equally important. Such samples must be sent promptly by the states and duties to the designated lab of INSACOG network for genome sequencing.”