New Delhi: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, virtually communicated with State Health Ministers and Principal Secretaries / Additional Chief Secretaries to review public health preparedness for containment and management of COVID 19 and the status of the national COVID 19 vaccination campaign in view of the recent increase in cases in some states.
The number of COVID 19 cases in India has recently been steadily rising, with an average daily case count of 4,188 per week. In response, the Union Health Minister urged the States to remain aware and to make every effort to handle COVID 19 patients.
States and UTs were informed that COVID-19 instances in India have been climbing steadily, with the average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7, 2023 from 571 in the week ending March 17, 2023, and the weekly positivity increasing to 3.02% in the same week. In contrast, 88,503 instances on average each day have been reported globally in the same period, with the top five nations accounting for 62.6% of all cases worldwide in the previous seven days.
He asked the State Health Ministers to examine the health preparation with district administrations and health authorities on April 8 and 9, 2023, and to perform simulated exercises of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11.
It was also noted that eight states in India are reporting a high number of Covid cases, with 10 or more districts in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi reporting more than 10% positivity and more than 5 districts in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana reporting more than 5% positivity.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasised the significance of raising public knowledge of the need to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour. He asked all of the state health ministers to personally check on the logistics and infrastructural readiness, including the availability of enough beds in designated hospitals, and to make sure there is a sufficient supply of important medications. Additionally, states were urged to update their COVID data frequently on the COVID India Portal.