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care We are ready to handle any situation,” Mandaviya said in a tweet.
Secretaries of Ministries of Health and Ayush, Department of Pharmaceuticals and Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member of NITI Aayog VK Paul (Health) and Chairman National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) NL Arora and other senior there were some positions in the meeting.
India’s cases are low so far, although the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 4,46,76,330 on Wednesday with 131 new infections. The number of active cases fell to 3,408, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.
The decision to hold a meeting, however, as cases have increased in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the USA. Cases have surged since China relaxed strict zero-Covid restrictions last month after rare public protests. Infections are spreading rapidly after that – the number of daily cases touched new records in the first two weeks of this month.
Advising Indians not to worry amid the surge in cases in China, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, said we need not panic “given our excellent vaccine coverage and track record”. “The news of rising Covid cases from China is alarming, we should not panic given our excellent vaccine coverage and track record. We should continue to rely on the guidelines set by the Government of India and @MoHFW_INDIA,” he tweeted.
Covid Advisory issued to States
Meanwhile, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul said only 27-28 per cent of India’s population has taken the preventive dose of Covid-19 and advised people to get the shot and wear masks in crowded places. He asked people not to panic and clarified that there has been no change in international air travel guidelines so far.
“People should wear masks in crowded areas. People with comorbidities or the elderly should especially stick to it,” Paul said.
The Union health ministry on Tuesday asked all states and union territories to step up whole genome sequencing of positive samples to track new variants.
In a letter to states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the exercise will enable early detection of new variants circulating in the country and facilitate the adoption of necessary public health measures.
He pointed out that India has been able to limit the transmission of the coronavirus by adhering to the five-fold strategy of trial-follow-up vaccination and appropriate anti-Covid behavior and is registering around 1,200 cases every week.
The public health challenge of Covid-19 continues globally with around 35 lakh cases being reported every week, Bhushan said.
“In view of the sudden increase in cases observed in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to prepare the whole genome sequencing of samples of positive cases to trace the variants through the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network,” he said. .
“In this context, all states are requested to send samples of all positive cases as much as possible, on a daily basis, to designated INSACOG genome laboratories mapped to states and UTs,” he added.
Here are the latest updates on Covid
• Mandaviya has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to ensure strict adherence to Covid guidelines and use of disinfectant masks during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The letter mentions that only vaccinated people participate.
• Speaking on the notification, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the BJP whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi was following Covid protocols during the Gujarat polls. “I think Mansukh Mandaviya doesn’t like Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, but people like him and join him. Mandaviya has been nominated to divert public attention,” Chowdhury added.
• Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 20 new cases of coronavirus, taking the number of infections to 81,36,368. Mumbai recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases with seven, followed by six reported from Pune circle, two each from Nagpur, Latur and Akola circles and one from Aurangabad circle. Maharashtra currently has 132 active cases, of which Pune has the highest number of patients with 48, 36 and nine patients in Mumbai and Thane districts respectively.
• Maharashtra’s health secretary said following the Union Health Ministry’s advice, the state will send all samples for genome sequencing to laboratories in Pune and Mumbai. “Currently, we are having about 100 positive cases every day, so we will do genome sequencing of all the positive samples,” he added.
• MoS Health Dr B Pawar said, “We are holding a meeting today under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. We will discuss the Covid situation in other countries and what needs to be done for India. Guidelines for genome sequencing were issued yesterday. ».
• The Uttar Pradesh government has directed officials to ensure compliance with Covid protocols at night shelters for the homeless. According to a statement, the state government’s guidelines stated that Covid protocol, such as maintaining social distance, should be followed at night shelters. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently directed officials to make adequate arrangements at night shelters in view of the bitter cold in the state.
(with input from PTI)
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