As Covid cases spike, Centre asks 6 states to keep a strict vigil

The Union health secretary stressed the need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain Covid-19 cases, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic. As India recorded a rise in daily coronavirus Covid-19 cases, the Union government asked the six most-affected states to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the spread of virus, citing a possible localised spread of the virus. “There are a few states which are reporting higher numbers of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection,” Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Bhushan advised these states to examine the situation of Covid-19 at micro-level and maintain focus on implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of the disease, duly ensuring effective compliance with various advisories issued by the Ministry of Health. While India, he noted, has observed a significant decline in the number of Covid-19 cases during the past few months, a fresh spike has been witnessed in certain parts of the country. The top health official stressed the need to monitor emerging clusters of new Covid-19 cases, influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases in all health facilities. Bhushan also advised that monitoring can be done through dedicated fever clinics on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection. He also stressed on genomic sequencing for prescribed samples of international passengers, collection of samples from sentinel sites (identified health facilities), and local clusters of cases, proactive promotion to increase administration of precaution dose for all eligible beneficiaries and following Covid-appropriate behaviour particularly in enclosed spaces and in crowded spaces. “It is essential that the state must maintain a strict watch