Bhubaneswar: With a resurgence observed in Covid-19 cases across Southeast Asia and some countries of Europe, the Health Ministry on Thursday asked all States to continue focus on the five-fold strategy of ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour’.
Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhusan, in a letter to Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary (Health) of all States/UTs informed that in view of the resurgence of cases in several countries, in a High Level Meeting chaired by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday, it was advised that States/UTs should focus on aggressive and sustained genome sequencing and intensified surveillance and keep an overall vigil on the Covid-19 situation.
“I would also like to emphasize that there should be continued focus on the five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour,” he added.
Bhusan asked States to ensure that adequate number of samples are submitted
to INSACOG network through Sentinel sites as per the protocol issued by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which is the Nodal Agency for INSACOG, to ensure timely detection of new variants while maintaining adequate testing as per the protocols for testing laid by ICMR.
Effective surveillance by monitoring of emerging clusters of new cases, if any, testing as per norms and monitoring of ILI and SARI cases shall be taken up on a continued basis to ensure that no early warning signals are missed and spread of infection can be controlled, he added.
States may ensure that all eligible persons are motivated to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as per the recent expansion of vaccination drive to young adults and precautionary doses for adults besides the completion of doses for all adults.
The State machinery should create required awareness and ensure adherence to COVID Appropriate Behavior, i.e., wearing of face masks, maintaining physical distancing in all public areas/gatherings and practice of effective hand & respiratory hygiene, said the Union Health Secretary.
“I am sure with your continued support, we will be able to maintain the momentum and build on the progress made so far to maintain the pandemic situation under control. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will continue to provide requisite support to the States/UTs in the ongoing and collective efforts against COVID-19,” added Bhusan.
