In response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across multiple states and Union territories in India, the Centre has issued an advisory, stressing the need for sustained vigilance and collective efforts to address the evolving challenges posed by the pandemic. The advisory follows the detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant of COVID-19 in the country.
Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant acknowledged the successful collaborative efforts between the Centre and state governments in maintaining sustainable low infection rates. However, he emphasized the necessity to remain proactive and vigilant as the COVID-19 virus adapts to Indian weather conditions and the co-circulation of other pathogens.
Pant outlined several critical strategies for COVID-19 control and management:
Festive Season Precautions: States are advised to implement necessary public health measures to minimize the risk of increased transmission during the upcoming festive season, with a key emphasis on adherence to respiratory hygiene practices.
Revised Surveillance Strategy: States are urged to ensure effective compliance with the detailed operational guidelines for the revised surveillance strategy for COVID-19 provided by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Monitoring and Reporting: States are instructed to actively monitor and report Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases on a district-wise basis. This data should be regularly updated on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal to detect early rising trends in cases.
Testing Protocols: States are advised to ensure adequate testing in all districts according to COVID-19 testing guidelines, with an emphasis on increasing the number of RT-PCR tests and sending positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG laboratories for timely detection of new variants.
Health Facility Preparedness: States are encouraged to actively engage both public and private health facilities in drills conducted by the Union Health Ministry to assess and enhance their preparedness and response capacities.
Community Awareness: States are urged to promote community awareness and seek continued public support in managing COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of community adherence to respiratory hygiene practices.
By Manish Poswal