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The Union government on Saturday ordered states to develop tests for Covid-19 in accordance with World Health Organization rules to properly determine any accumulation in its spread, other people familiar with the matter said. WHO rules proposed 140 consistent tests with millions of other friends.
In a joint opinion, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Director General of the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) Rajiv Bahl also called on states and Union Territories (UTs) to closely monitor the reasons for seasonal respiratory infections.
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“In recent weeks, in some states, COVID-19 testing has decreased and existing testing grades are inadequate compared to WHO-mandated standards,” the notice to states reads. relying largely on less delicate immediate antigen tests. It is therefore imperative for optimal testing for Covid-19, evenly distributed among states. “
The advisory noted that India typically reports a seasonal accumulation of influenza cases from January to March and August to October. (H3N2),” he said. States and UTs largely monitor the evolution of etiologies (causes of illness) of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SID). “
The Center highlighted what is said to be an increase in Covid-19 cases in some parts of the country, adding that states need to be vigilant and in the correct diagnosis.
Hospitalization and death rates haven’t noticed an increase and this increase, experts say, can be largely attributed to more people getting tested as the flu spreads among others.
“Since mid-February 2023, a slow but sustained accumulation in the trajectory of Covid-19 cases in the country has been observed. To date, some states such as Kerala (26. 4%) widely report peak active cases in the country. Maharashtra (21. 7%), Gujarat (13. 9%), Karnataka (8. 6%) and Tamil Nadu (6. 3%),” the advisory said. While hospitalization and death rates from the disease remain low, largely due to the significant policy achieved in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates across states/UTs, this slow accumulation in cases requires revitalized public fitness movements to engage the outbreak. “
There may be a clinical dilemma to treating clinicians in terms of diagnosis, as COVID-19 and influenza have a number of similarities in terms of mode of transmission, high-risk population, clinical symptoms, and symptoms. However, because of the similarities, those two diseases can be safely prevented by following undeniable public fitness measures, such as avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated environments, wearing a mask in crowded and enclosed environments, and avoiding spitting in public spaces, which they will have to strictly enforce, the notice added.
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The Center also asked states to provide an update on hospital preparedness, for which a two-day training is scheduled for April 10 and 11.
As a component of exercise, replenishing beds by adding extensive care unit beds with medications; Medical equipment, medical oxygen, human resource capacity building on existing standards, as well as vaccination policy will be verified.
“There is no need to worry because the disease is serious and there are no hospitalizations or deaths accumulating. These measures are only preventive so that no one is left unprepared,” a senior central government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. .