New Delhi, 20 July 2022
EU Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level assembly to examine the COVID-19 situation in 115 districts in nine states showing an increase in new cases and an increase in positive case rates.
The states are Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
The meeting discussed public fitness measures for the surveillance, containment and control of COVID-19, in which Vinod Paul, member of NITI Aayog (Health), was also present.
Expressing fear of the increase in cases in those states over the past month, Dr. Paul reiterated, “We will have to remember that COVID has not gone away. “
“Looking at the global stage, we want to be on high alert. There is poor surveillance, poor and below-average vaccination in many states experiencing the existing increase,” he said.
He suggested states test in areas of high positivity, develop surveillance in accordance with the revised surveillance strategy, and increase COVID vaccination.
The Union Secretary of Health highlighted the methods for controlling and managing COVID as follows:
All districts reporting a higher positivity rate will have to adopt good enough tests with a higher proportion of RTPCR tests. Any laxity will result in a deterioration of the scenario in those neighborhoods.
It is to monitor well and strictly the instances of home isolation so that they do not combine and circulate in their neighborhoods, community, village, mohalla, neighborhood, etc. , and do not spread the infection.
States were invited to conduct follow-up in accordance with the revised follow-up strategy published on June 9, 2022. They were also asked to report cases of AIRS (severe acute respiratory illness) and ILI (influenza-like illness) at the district point on a basis. Also, send them for genome sequencing to inSACG’s MAPPED laboratories.
States were invited to adopt evidence on the indication of foreign arrivals, with genome sequencing of all positives; identify sentinel sites for the INSACOG network to send samples for whole genome sequencing.
States will also need to submit positive samples from large groups/epidemics in the network and events for whole genome sequencing.
States want to raise awareness about informing those who opt for home test kits through the RAT, for immediate identification of cases that require clinical management. All those positive patients should be informed of home isolation to prevent the spread of infection in the community.
States were suggested to accelerate the handling of the ongoing loose Covid-19 vaccine for the first, second and precautionary doses. More was suggested to states to emphasize the implementation of loose precautionary doses for the population over 18 years of age as a component of Amrit Mahotsav COVID vaccination until September 30, 2022.
States were informed that the specific implementation of Appropriate COVID Behavior (CAB) is imperative for the spread of infection. They were asked to increase the network’s awareness of the spread of infections and those protocols.
Dr. Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS, New Delhi, asked states to be alert to the clinical symptoms of COVID patients and not to wait until their genome sequencing is complete if a group is emerging in a state. States will have to be attentive to the evolution of the clinical manifestations of hospitalized patients, he said.
It was noted that the average testing for millions of people is lower than the national average in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, while the consistent percentage of RT-PCR tests is very low in the states. from Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and below the national average in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal. These states were asked to urgently address the downward trend in RT-PCR tests and their average number of daily tests in line with one million.
He noted that there are still significant opportunities to accelerate vaccination in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. States were also suggested to closely monitor all affected districts that had a positivity. rate above 10% last week.
States were reminded of the Indian government’s new initiative, Amrit Mahotsav COVID Vaccination, which was launched on 15 July 2022 to supply a loose precautionary dose at all Government Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs). All persons over 18 years of age who have completed 6 months or 26 weeks from the administration of the 2nd dose of the Covid-19 vaccine are eligible for the administration of a loose precautionary dose until September 30, 2022.
Sunil Goel, DGHS, Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary (MoHFW), Lav Agarwal, Deputy Secretary (MoHFW) and ministry officials were present at the meeting. The Principal Secretary (Health), the Director of Mission (NHM) and state monitoring officials from the states participated in the review meeting.
NNN