New Delhi: The Centre has advised all states and union territories to keep a close eye on the Covid issue, particularly in three states where eight districts have reported a Covid positive rate of above 10%, and to take targeted district-level actions to minimise clusters of new cases. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated in a letter to states and union territories (UTs) that 19 districts in Kerala, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Manipur, West Bengal, and Nagaland had reported positive rates of five to ten percent in the previous two weeks.
In the recent two weeks, the COVID-19 positive rate has exceeded 10% in eight districts in Mizoram, Kerala, and Sikkim, he added. Mr Bhushan said in the letter, “thus, these 27 districts need to be monitored very closely.” In this scenario, he added, “it’s essential for states and UTs to keep a close eye on the issue and take targeted district-level steps to minimise clusters of new COVID-19 cases. In case of any district reporting a surge in cases, or rise in positivity rates, intensive action and local containment as per the containment framework must be initiated.”
He added, “The strategic containment interventions in identified areas with test positivity rate of over 10 per cent or over 60 per cent bed occupancy on either two supported or ICU beds, include night curfews, restricting intermingling of people, prohibition of congregations (social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious, festival-related), curtailment of attendees in marriages and funerals or last rites, etc. Strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour at all places and at all times must also be rigorously enforced and aggressively monitored ”
According to him, the strategy mandates providing enough early notice to the community and emphasising the necessity for tight containment steps to obtain community engagement and support. Mr Bhushan said that the measures might be evaluated on a regular basis at the state level to ensure strict adherence to the standards.