New Delhi: Emphasizing on strict enforcement of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, the Center has asked both the state governments to review these parameters in the light of rising coronavirus cases, weekly positivity rates and declining testing figures in Assam and West Bengal.
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of Assam and West Bengal on October 26, Aarti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry, highlighted the increase in new Covid cases weekly since last week.
The Additional Secretary also underlined the early signs of an increase in positivity from the last four weeks to October 25.
Noting that Covid cases rise rapidly, where basic public health strategy (testing, tracking, treatment, covid-appropriate behavior and vaccination) is not strictly followed, Ahuja stressed the need for proper implementation of containment-zones for cases. Emphasis on monitoring, focused on door-to-door. Searching of active Covid cases within these zones, strict and daily surveillance of cases under home isolation and their referral to hospitals and strengthening contact tracing of Covid-19 positive people and review of containment zones in Assam and West Bengal, PTI told.
In his letter, he mentioned the availability of hospital or bed infrastructure in the state, strict adherence to national treatment protocols, augmentation of ICU, oxygen beds and ventilator capacity along with real-time public dashboard for speedy and smooth admission of cases. It also underlined to strengthen the system for and increasing the testing figures, while maintaining the share of RT-PCR tests.
The Additional Secretary in his letter to the two Chief Secretaries said that along with accelerating the pace of the second dose of vaccination for the eligible population, the target is to have 100 percent first dose coverage of the population above 18.
In his letter to the Chief Secretary of Assam, he pointed out that there has been an increase of 41 per cent in weekly new cases since last week and added that the initial signs of increase in positivity for the last four weeks are from 1.89 per cent. 2.22 percent in the week of October 19 to 25 in the week of 28 September to 4 October.
The Additional Secretary in his letter informed that two districts of Assam, Barpeta and Kamrup Metro, have been identified as districts of concern due to high volume of Covid cases and weekly positivity.
Similarly, Ahuja in his letter to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal said that the two districts of Kolkata and Howrah have been identified as districts of concern due to high volume of cases and positivity.
Highlighting that West Bengal has shown an increase of around 41 per cent in weekly new cases since last week, the Additional Secretary informed that 6,040 cases were reported in the week of October 20-26 as compared to 4,277 in the week of October 13. Come – 19.
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He also informed that the initial signs of increase in positivity for the last four weeks have increased from 1.93 per cent in the week of September 28 to October 4 to 2.39 per cent during October 19 to 25.
Expressing concern over the rise in Covid cases in Kolkata, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had earlier also on October 22 written to West Bengal after Durga Puja celebrations earlier this month.
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