The centre has asked eight states to keep a close watch on the COVID- 19 situation amid rising positivity rate, or infections per 100 tests.
“The epidemic is still not over, and we must remain conservative against laxity at any position, which may abate the earnings made in epidemic operation so far,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to the eight countries.
Mr Bhushan said while hospitalisation rate and deaths due to Covid have remained low, countries and sections reporting advanced number of cases may indicate a possible localised spread of infection.
“This has needed a near look at these states and districts (high diurnal cases and/or high test positivity rates) and the need to launch needful public health measures to control and contain similar surges in the original stages,” Mr Bhushan said in the letter.
The eight countries that entered the letter are Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana and Delhi.
The number of sections in these countries with over 10 per cent positivity rate is UP (1), Tamil Nadu (11), Rajasthan (6), Maharashtra (8), Kerala (14), Haryana (12) and Delhi (11).
The centre asked the countries to strengthen Covid surveillance in all sections and cover trends of influenza- suchlike illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.
