TS told to keep watch as COVID cases go up

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday recorded 1,590 Covid cases, the highest single day rise in 146 days. Amid the sudden spike that started last week, the Centre issued a fresh advisory to states and Union Territories on maintaining optimum testing.

The government is planning a nationwide mock drill on April 10 and 11 to test hospital preparedness.

According to a joint advisory by the Union health ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), public and private health facilities in all districts are expected to participate in the exercise to take stock of availability of medicines, hospital beds, medical equipment and medical oxygen.

The toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 5,30,824 with six more fatalities — three reported from Maharashtra and one each recorded in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The number of active Covid cases climbed to 8,601.
Currently, the most prominent subtypes of Influenza in circulation seems to be Influenza A (H1N1) and Influenza A (H3N2). "As you may be aware, Covid-19 and Influenza share a number of similarities in terms of mode of transmission, high risk population, clinical signs and symptoms,” the advisory stated.

“While this may present a clinical dilemma in terms of diagnosis, this also renders both these diseases preventable by following simple public health measures like avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, using handkerchief/tissue while sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask in crowded and closed settings, maintaining hand hygiene, avoiding spitting in public places, etc," it said.

The details of the mock drill shall be communicated to the states in the virtual meeting scheduled on March 27, the advisory stated. The joint advisory highlighted that in the past several weeks, Covid-19 testing had declined in some states and the testing levels at present are insufficient as per the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), at 140 per million.

The states and UTs have been asked to keep a close watch on the evolving etiologies (causes of diseases) of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases.

Masks, hand hygiene back again

The Centre’s health advisory made the following points

Masks to be worn in crowded and closed settings

Use handkerchief/tissue to cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.

Maintain hand hygiene and wash hands frequently.

Avoid spitting in public places.

Persons with co-morbidity and the elderly must avoid overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings.

Doctors, paramedics, healthcare workers, patients, attendants to wear masks.

Promote testing and early reporting of symptoms.

Limit personal contact if suffering from respiratory diseases.