Sunday, 26 March 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In view of the increase in cases of Covid-19 in different parts of the country, the Health ministry has issued an advisory to the States. In a letter the secretary department of health, research and DG of ICMR, Dr Rajiv Bahl said that a gradual but sustained increase in Covid-19 cases in the country has been witnessed since Mid February this year. He said that the States must keep a close watch on the cases of Influenza Like Diseases (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).
The letter said that the ILI, SARI and Influenza cases are monitored by IDSP as well as by the comprehensive network of labs of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). It asked the State/District IDSP units to closely follow the trend of ILI/SARI and monitor the proportion of SARI cases. The letter stressed on increasing community awareness to limit transmission of these diseases. The advisory asks people to avoid overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings particularly by co-morbid persons and the elderly.
It advises wearing of masks by doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers and says that people should wear masks in crowded places. It directs the States to take a stock of hospital preparedness including drugs, beds including ICU beds, medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resource on existing guidelines as well as vaccination coverage. The department is also planning to hold nation- wide mock drills on April 11 and 12 on Covid-19.
