These 10 states are Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab.
“In view of a rapid surge in cases and deaths because of Covid-19, …it has been seen that a number of Omicron cases have emerged in some states. It has also been observed that the pace of vaccination in these states is less than the national average,” an official memorandum from the health ministry said.
The seven-day rolling average of cases per million remains low as compared to several other countries, according to ‘ourworldindata’ website that tracks the pandemic and the bi-weekly changes (cumulative number of cases over the previous two weeks) is at 70 per million people while the rate is soaring in nations like France (12,200/million) and UK (17,233/million). But given the high transmissibility of Omicron, the Centre has renewed its push to increase detection and vaccination.
The move comes soon after PM Narendra Modi directed officials at the Centre to work with a ‘whole of government’ approach and assist states in addressing issues so that containment of cases can happen.
The teams will be stationed in the states for three to five days and aid efforts of state and district administrations for management of Covid-19. They will suggest remedial actions and submit a report by 7pm on health activities being undertaken, besides submitting the same to the states, the memo stated.
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