NEW DELHI: In the wake of the increase in daily new Covid-19 cases in some states, the center on Wednesday delegated high-level multidisciplinary teams to visit ten states that have seen an increase in the number of infections.
The central teams will visit Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the reason for the increase in cases.
The teams will support the states in public health measures for Covid-directed response and management, the health ministry said.
The Center advised states and UTs to regularly review the emerging situation with relevant district officials to ensure that the profits made so far in Covid management are not lost.
The center also wrote to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and J&K. “States should focus on taking aggressive measures to break the distribution chain and ensure that RT-PCR testing is strengthened to flush out hitherto unmarked cases from the population,” Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in the letter. .
These conditions / UT are advised to increase the tests in a focused manner in the relevant districts and to ensure that all symptomatic negatives of antigen tests are compulsorily tested via RT-PCR tests. Those who test positive should be immediately isolated or hospitalized. All their close contact should be tracked down and also tested without delay, Bhushan said.
“Any laxity in implementing strict measures to limit the spread, especially in light of new virus strains being observed in certain countries, could exacerbate the situation,” he added.
