Centre asks five states to monitor clusters, amid increase in covid-19 positivity rate
The Centre on Tuesday wrote to Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Mizoram regarding increasing Covid-19 positivity rate and cases in these states.
Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked the states to monitor clusters, intensify genome sequencing, and urged stricter vigil on the pandemic situation.
“There are a few states which are reporting a higher contribution to India’s cases and higher positivity. This ministry has advised following a risk-assessment based approach on allowing economic and social activities,” Bhushan wrote in letters sent to these states.
Emphasising the need to implement five-fold strategy of test, track, treat, vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour, the Centre stressed on the use of masks in crowded places. “Monitor Influenza-like illnesses on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection,” Bhushan suggested.
The health ministry also warned states against laxity and said it can nullify the gains in the pandemic management so far.