Covid: As schools reopen, Centre asks states to monitor infection in children

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 18

The central government on Saturday asked states to monitor any rising Covid infection trends among children as schools reopen and also augment the public health response infrastructure including medical oxygen plants, ICU and hospital facilities and essential medicine stocking.

At a review meeting with states a day after India set a record by delivering 2.27 crore Covid vaccine doses in a day, cabinet secretary Rajeev Gauba said there was no room for complacency.

The health ministry flagged 70 districts of concern in 15 states—34 with Covid positivity rate above 10 per cent and 36 between 5 and 10 per cent—and called for strict enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour especially in the wake of upcoming festivities.

The Cabinet Secretary advised states to ensure observance of Covid-safe festivities,

Implement intensive containment and active surveillance in clusters reporting high cases and not delay the imposition of restrictions, increase testing while maintaining RT-PCR ratio and promptly commission pressure swing absorption plants, oxygen cylinders, concentrators and ventilators.

“States were also told to undertake regular reviews for priority implementation of emergency response package II to ensure preparedness with enough headroom, monitor infection spread in children considering that few states have opened schools, monitor breakthrough infections post vaccination and analyse the emerging evidence, monitor mutations including sending sufficient samples for genome sequencing,” the government said.

The Centre also asked states to accelerate speed and coverage of vaccination and take necessary measures for the prevention and control of dengue and vector-borne diseases.

States were also guided on the control of Serotype-II Dengue in 11 States including Haryana.

Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog and Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries (Health), Principal Secretaries (Health), Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors attended the meeting.

The meeting hailed the landmark achievement of more than 2.5 crore vaccine doses administered on Saturday.

“We hope that with increased availability of vaccine doses, the pace of vaccination will be maintained. There is no room for complacency. There is strict need to enforce Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB),” Gauba said.

Drawing examples from other countries that saw multiple peaks of Covid-19, the government expressed concern over certain pockets in the country reporting high test positivity and advised states to undertake granular analysis of their Covid trajectory, ramp up their Health Infrastructure, undertake the stocking of essential medicine and augment Human Resources at the earliest, to meet any potential surge in cases.

Health Secretary highlighted the emerging challenge of Serotype-II Dengue in 11 States which is associated with more cases and more complications than other forms of the disease. He suggested the states undertake steps like early detection of cases; operationalisation of fever helplines; adequate stocking of testing kits, larvicides and medicines; deployment of Rapid Response teams for prompt investigation and necessary Public Health Action like Fever Survey, Contact Tracing, Vector Control; alerting blood banks for maintaining adequate stocks of blood and blood components, especially platelets.

Bhushan also brought to the notice of the states 70 districts in 15 states are a cause of concern as 34 of these districts have positivity exceeding 10 per cent and in 36 districts, the positivity is in the range of 5-10 per cent.

“In view of the forthcoming festival season, states were directed to ensure all necessary precautions and effective enforcement for avoidance of mass gathering and congested closed spaces. Existing guidelines regarding malls, local markets, and places of worship are to be strictly followed,” said the Government in a statement.

The five-fold Covid Containment Strategy (Test, Treat, Track, Vaccinate, CAB adherence) was underlined.