Union health minister instructs states to strengthen surveillance in wake of Covid surge

NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandavya said that states have been instructed not to take any lapse in precautionary measures and to strengthen surveillance in wake of Covid surge. The proposal was made in a meeting called in the context of rising cases of Covid in Kerala and the discovery of a new variant. Health Ministers and senior officials of all states attended the meeting. 88% of the active cases in the country are currently in Kerala.

Meanwhile, Kerala's assessment is that there is no cause for concern even though there is an increase in Covid cases. Kerala has informed that in case of Omicron variant being reported, precautionary measures have been strengthened and hospital systems are ready. The health department has suggested that the hospital staff and those visiting the hospital should wear masks properly.

After Kerala, the new variant of Covid, JN-1, was detected in Goa and Maharashtra. 18 new cases were detected in the post-film festival in Goa. The variant was confirmed in symptomatic individuals in Maharashtra.

After the new variant was discovered in Kerala, the central government asked all the states to be vigilant. States are also advised to increase RTPCR testing. Following this, the disease was confirmed in Goa and Maharashtra.