NEW DELHI: Citing the resurgence of coronavirus cases in southeast Asia and parts of Europe, the Centre has asked the states to restart monitoring influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections so that no early warning signals are missed and Covid is controlled.
In a letter to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries (Health) of all States and UTs, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan informed that a high-level meeting was chaired by the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on March 16, 2022 wherein it was advised to “focus on aggressive and sustained genome sequencing and intensified surveillance and keep an overall vigil on the Covid situation.”
“I would also like to emphasize that there should be continued focus on the five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior,” he added.
The Centre has also asked the States and UTs 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 influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (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,” the Centre said.
However, the testings were stopped recently as India has been recording a steady decline in Covid-19 cases.
As part of intensified surveillance, patients being hospitalised with ILI and SARI will again be tested for Covid-19 and positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure an adequate number of samples are submitted to the INSACOG network for timely detection of new Covid variants.
He also stressed on maintaining testing according to protocols, observing all precautions and not letting the guard down while resuming economic and social activities.
He further said the state machinery should create required awareness and ensure adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour and practise effective hand and respiratory hygiene.
The Centre said that the State machinery should create required awareness and ensure adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior, that is, wearing of face masks, maintaining physical distancing in all public areas/gatherings and practice of effective hand and respiratory hygiene.
Meanwhile, India on Friday reported 2,528 new Covid-19 cases,997 recoveries, and 149 deaths. India’s Active caseload currently stands at 29,181.
(With inputs from agencies)
In a letter to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries (Health) of all States and UTs, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan informed that a high-level meeting was chaired by the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on March 16, 2022 wherein it was advised to “focus on aggressive and sustained genome sequencing and intensified surveillance and keep an overall vigil on the Covid situation.”
“I would also like to emphasize that there should be continued focus on the five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior,” he added.
The Centre has also asked the States and UTs 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 influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (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,” the Centre said.
However, the testings were stopped recently as India has been recording a steady decline in Covid-19 cases.
As part of intensified surveillance, patients being hospitalised with ILI and SARI will again be tested for Covid-19 and positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure an adequate number of samples are submitted to the INSACOG network for timely detection of new Covid variants.
He also stressed on maintaining testing according to protocols, observing all precautions and not letting the guard down while resuming economic and social activities.
He further said the state machinery should create required awareness and ensure adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour and practise effective hand and respiratory hygiene.
The Centre said that the State machinery should create required awareness and ensure adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior, that is, wearing of face masks, maintaining physical distancing in all public areas/gatherings and practice of effective hand and respiratory hygiene.
Meanwhile, India on Friday reported 2,528 new Covid-19 cases,997 recoveries, and 149 deaths. India’s Active caseload currently stands at 29,181.
(With inputs from agencies)