Amid the rise in the covid-19 cases, union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan writes to five states namely Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Maharastra, and Mizoram to keep a strict watch on the cases. They are also been “advised to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake required steps for prompt and effective management of Covid-19”.
“It is essential that the state must maintain a strict watch and take pre-emptive action if required in any areas of concern to control any emerging spread of infection. Testing & surveillance still remain important to track the virus, its spread & evolution,” Bhushan said in the letter.
The reported detection of the new XE variant is considered to be more transmissible than omicron in accordance with what WHO said. The new XE variant is 10 times more transmissible than omicron. “The five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour should be followed with a continued focus on monitoring clusters of new Covid-19 cases and required containment efforts for curbing the spread of infection, adequate testing as per guidelines and undertake required steps in areas reporting high case positivity, monitoring of Influenza-like illness (ILI) and SARI cases in all health facilities on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection, genomic sequencing for prescribed samples of international passengers, collection of samples from sentinel sites (identified health facilities), and local clusters of cases, and vaccination of all eligible people,” the letter read.