Bhubaneswar: Taking into account the rising COVID-19 cases in the country, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla today wrote to Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs to ensure effective management of the disease. “Ensure compliance to the normative framework for taking evidence based COVID-19 containment measures, has been extended upto February 28,” he stated.
“Due to the current COVID wave, led by the new variant, Omicron, there has been a steady increase in the number of COVID cases in the country and the active cases have increased to over 22 lakhs. Though a majority of active cases are recovering fast and a low percentage of cases are in hospitals, it is still a matter of concern that 407 districts in 34 States & UTs are reporting a positivity rate of more than 10%. Therefore, looking at the current trends of COVID virus, there is a need to exercise caution and vigilance,” Bhalla’s letter read.
All the States/ UTs must observe all precautions and not let the guard down. Based on the normative framework, as advised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, local/district administration should continue to take prompt and appropriate containment measures. Imposition and lifting of local curbs/restrictions should be dynamic and should be based on the case positivity and hospitalization status at the local level, said Bhalla in the letter.
The Union Health Secretary laid stress on the five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour. “The State enforcement machinery should strictly enforce the norms of COVID Appropriate Behaviour, i.e., wearing of face masks and maintaining safe social distancing in all public areas/gatherings. Further, States & UTs should continue to hold regular media briefings to disseminate the right information and to discourage any misinformation on new variants of concern.”
Bhalla urged the States and UTs to issue necessary directions to the districts and all other local authorities concerned, to take necessary measures for prompt and effective management of COVID. 19, strict compliance with various advisories issued by the Health Ministry on Omicron and strict enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behaviour.
