Centre lays out a 7-step strategy to deal with COVID-19 spike at district-level

Union Health Secretary of India Rajesh Bhushan wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories laying out a 7-step strategy to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: Jahnavi Sarma | | Published: March 31, 2021 9:00 am

Bhushan asked those with a high-case load and fast growth of cases to ensure 100 per cent saturation vaccination of the priority age group of 45 year and above, in the coming two weeks.

India is now in the grip of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown may be imminent if people do not follow the rules laid down by the government to tackle the spread of the viral contagion. But nobody wants another lockdown as it can throw the economy out of gear. All efforts are being made to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. Amid the surge in coronavirus cases, Union Health Secretary of India Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories seeking action at the district levels, including public health measures, focus on mortality reduction and 100 per cent saturation vaccination of priority age groups. In the letter, he said that many districts are seeing clusters of cases emerging because of specific events and or places where crowding happens, or where large number of people are in close physical contact, coupled with lack of COVID-appropriate behaviour. Here is the 7-step strategy laid down by Bhushan. Also Read - Lockdown Imposed In Delhi From Tonight Amid COVID-19 Surge: Here's What’s Allowed, What’s Shut

100 per cent vaccination of priority age groups

Giving the states and Union Territories seven pointers for action at the district level, Bhushan asked those with a high-case load and fast growth of cases to ensure 100 per cent saturation vaccination of the priority age group of 45 year and above, in the coming two weeks. Also Read - Rajasthan Government Imposes 15-Day Lockdown Due To Covid-19 Surge

Pinpoint cause of death: Late detection or surveillance failure?

States have also been asked to focus on mortality reduction and examine case fatality rate and its growth, identify localities and hospitals where deaths are high and analyse deaths to understand whether they were due to late detection or surveillance failure. Also Read - Covid-19 patients with poor lifestyle habits are at a higher risk of death

Enforce COVID-appropriate behaviour

He also sought enforcement of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour using the Police Act, or powers under the Disaster Management Act. “Besides, elected representatives, local influencers, celebrities, religious leaders etc. should be roped in to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour,” he urged.

Test, track and treat

The fourth action to control the pandemic includes efficient implementation of “Test, Track, and Treat”, Bhushan said, noting that it remains the only proven strategy for control of transmission.

Action plan with clear timelines

He also said that each district, irrespective of whether it is seeing a surge right now, or has a current low burden, should make an action plan with clear timelines and responsibilities, and including mapping of cases, reviewing sub area wise indicators like case positivity rate, rate of growth of cases, case fatality, doubling rate of cases on a real time basis. The RT-PCR tests must be more than 70 per cent, he added. The action plan must also review the geographical spread of infection day on day, identify possible source or sources and an Emergency Operations Centre with a team to monitor the indicators, their growth and spread 24×7 should be set up.

Enforce precautionary measures

The Health Secretary also stressed that individual actions, such as proper wearing of face masks covering nose and mouth, maintaining six feet distance from others, and sanitising one’s hands frequently must be ensured.

Don’t neglect public health measures

Lastly, he asked the states and UTs to take public health measures by quarantining and testing individuals suspected to be positive including close contacts of positive persons, isolating all those who are positive and testing them.

The current COVID-19 scene in India

Bhushan requested states and the UTs to disseminate the following points among all the districts during in-depth review meetings. India recorded 56,211 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 1,20,95,855 on Tuesday. Six states — Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat — continue to report a surge in daily new cases. This is the second peak. India had fought the first six months ago, recording a highest single-day spike of 93,617 cases on September 16 and the highest number of deaths (1,169) on September 15. Bhushan rued that after having successfully brought down the number of new Covid cases from mid-September 2020 to February 2021, India is now witnessing a rapid rise in cases.

(With inputs from IANS)

Published : March 31, 2021 9:00 am

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