Centre suggests effective containment, contact tracing amid surge in COVID-19 cases

New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday took sturdy observe of the sharp rise in the variety of coronavirus cases in the nation and suggested as many as 12 states and Union Territories of taking stringent motion, together with effective containment and contact tracing.

A overview assembly chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan with further chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries (Health and Family Welfare) of those states and municipal commissioners and district collectors highlighted that whereas 90 per cent individuals are conscious, solely 44 per cent truly put on face masks.

The ministry additionally recommended that the states ought to enhance testing in all districts. “Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to be mostly deployed as a screening tool in flushing out cluster cases from densely populated areas,” the ministry mentioned.

Centre famous that one contaminated individual may unfold the virus to a median of 406 people in a 30-day window with out restrictions.

“One infected person could spread COVID-19 to an average of 406 other individuals in a 30-day window without restrictions which could be reduced to just 15 by decreasing physical exposure to 50 per cent and to a further 2.5 (average) by decreasing physical exposure to 75 per cent,” the ministry mentioned.

A big enhance in testing and making certain compliance of COVID-19 acceptable behaviour to assist in curbing the unfold of the virus in these 12 states and UTs has been recommended. These 12 states and Union Territories are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab and Bihar.

The Centre additionally requested states and UTs to offer renewed consideration to making sure ‘COVID-appropriate behaviour’ in crowded locations like markets, inter-state bus stands, faculties, schools, railway stations, and so on.

Also, the ministry requested the states to make advance planning of logistics and infrastructure administration for previous 45 days or in order many unchecked unfold of an infection among the many group could overwhelm the native administration.