by NEW DELHI: Amid rising concerns over an increase in Omicron-infected cases, PM Narendra Modi has stressed the need to be ‘satark and saavdhan (alert and careful)’ and directed officials to maintain a high level of vigil and alertness at all levels as the battle against the pandemic is not yet over.
In a review meeting on Thursday, the PM directed the government to work in close coordination with states to support their efforts on public health measures of containment and management under a “whole of government” approach. He also suggested sending central teams to states with low vaccination rates, rising cases and insufficient health infrastructure to assist them improve their capabilities.
The strategy for a “proactive, focussed, collaborative and cooperative” fight against the pandemic should guide all our future actions, the PM told the officials, according to a government press release.
Modi also asked officials to ensure that adequate number of Covid-positive samples are sent for genome sequencing. Till Thursday morning, 236 Omicron cases were detected through genome sequencing. However, these are only from the limited samples sent for genome sequencing and the actual number Omicron-infected cases is likely to be much more.
The PM directed officials to conduct heightened and close monitoring of emerging clusters and hotspots through “active, prompt and effective” surveillance. He also highlighted the need to accelerate testing to ensure quick identification of cases, the government statement said.
To ensure preparedness to tackle any upsurge in cases, Modi directed officials to ensure that the health systems in the states, beginning from the district level, are strengthened to meet any challenge.
According to the statement, Modi asked officials to ensure that sufficient number of oxygen supply equipment is installed and fully functional in each state. He also directed officials to interact with the states regularly and review the status of preparedness of health infrastructure, including training and capacity-building of human resources, timely availability of ambulances, readiness of states to operationalise Covid facilities for institutional quarantining, and effective and supervised monitoring of those in home isolation, the statement further said.
Earlier on Thursday, the health ministry also held a meeting with states and underlined the need to be vigilant and monitor case-positivity, doubling rate and clusters of new cases.
In a review meeting on Thursday, the PM directed the government to work in close coordination with states to support their efforts on public health measures of containment and management under a “whole of government” approach. He also suggested sending central teams to states with low vaccination rates, rising cases and insufficient health infrastructure to assist them improve their capabilities.
The strategy for a “proactive, focussed, collaborative and cooperative” fight against the pandemic should guide all our future actions, the PM told the officials, according to a government press release.
Modi also asked officials to ensure that adequate number of Covid-positive samples are sent for genome sequencing. Till Thursday morning, 236 Omicron cases were detected through genome sequencing. However, these are only from the limited samples sent for genome sequencing and the actual number Omicron-infected cases is likely to be much more.
The PM directed officials to conduct heightened and close monitoring of emerging clusters and hotspots through “active, prompt and effective” surveillance. He also highlighted the need to accelerate testing to ensure quick identification of cases, the government statement said.
To ensure preparedness to tackle any upsurge in cases, Modi directed officials to ensure that the health systems in the states, beginning from the district level, are strengthened to meet any challenge.
According to the statement, Modi asked officials to ensure that sufficient number of oxygen supply equipment is installed and fully functional in each state. He also directed officials to interact with the states regularly and review the status of preparedness of health infrastructure, including training and capacity-building of human resources, timely availability of ambulances, readiness of states to operationalise Covid facilities for institutional quarantining, and effective and supervised monitoring of those in home isolation, the statement further said.
Earlier on Thursday, the health ministry also held a meeting with states and underlined the need to be vigilant and monitor case-positivity, doubling rate and clusters of new cases.
