New Delhi/Mumbai: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked chiefs of states to ramp up oxygen supplies and strengthen health infrastructure to contain a possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets grow in size.
In view of the new variant, we should be “satark” and “saavdhan” (cautious and watchful), the Prime Minister said.
The fight against the pandemic is not over, he said, underscoring that the need for COVID-safe behaviour is still of paramount importance.
India's total Omicron cases have risen to 236 across 16 states.
“PM directed the officials to ensure that the health systems in the states, beginning from the district level, are strengthened to meet any challenge posed by the new variant,” the government said in a statement.
“It is important for states to ensure that the oxygen supply equipments are installed and fully functional, he (Modi) instructed the officials,” it said.
Ahead of Thursday’s Modi meeting and in a second advisory issued this week, the federal government urged states to impose curbs lasting for almost two weeks should there be a risk of an outbreak.
“The Centre has advised States and UTs (union territories) to not let their guard down and maintain their preparedness for fighting COVID19 (and its variants) in view of the new variant Omicron,” the government said in a separate statement issued earlier in the day.While more than half of India’s adult population is fully vaccinated, hundreds of millions are still at risk. Doctors warn that if an Omicron-fuelled third wave of infections hits the country, medical facilities could be over-run very quickly.
Millions are still at risk
Earlier, the federal government urged states to impose curbs lasting for almost a fortnight should there be a risk of an outbreak.
“The Centre has advised States and UTs (union territories) to not let their guard down and maintain their preparedness for fighting COVID-19 (and its variants) in view of the new variant Omicron,” the government said in a statement.
While more than half of India’s adult population is fully vaccinated, millions are still at risk. Doctors warn that if an Omicron-fuelled third wave of infections hits the country, medical facilities could be over-run very quickly.
The states have been asked to put in place the local containment measures by the District and local administration when either the test positivity increases beyond 10 per cent or occupancy of oxygenated beds increases beyond 40 per cent.
“Based on the local situation and population characteristics such as density and others and keeping in mind the higher transmissibility of Omicron, States/UTs can undertake containment measures and impose restrictions even before these thresholds are reached”, the Health Ministry has said.
The states have been advised to follow the five-fold strategy of Containment, Testing; Surveillance, Clinical Management, Covid Safe Behaviour and Vaccination. On Containment, the states have been advised to impose night curfews and ensure strict regulation of large gatherings, especially ahead of the forthcoming festivities. The states need to have keep strict watch on number of Delta and Omicron cases in all districts, and case positivity on a day-on-day and week-on-week basis.
Omicron variant closely mimic common cold
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the public health preparedness of the states for fighting Covid-19 and said that any restriction must be enforced for minimum of 14 days. As syndromes of Omicron variant closely mimic common cold with a higher rate of transmissibility and doubling time, syndromic approach for Covid containment can be employed, said Bhushan.
The states have also been informed that the existing National Clinical Management Protocol remains unchanged for Omicron. They were advised to increase bed capacity, ensure logistics like ambulances and enforce mechanism for seamless shifting of patients. “Utilise funds sanctioned under Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP-II) to ensure that the requisite capacity of health systems is developed at/near hotspots to respond to any emergency”, said ministry to the states.
On the front of Covid Safe Behaviour, states have been asked to ensure advance engagement and information so that there is no misinformation or panic. The states have been asked to ensure 100 per cent coverage of left out first and second dose eligible beneficiaries in an accelerated manner and give special focus to those districts where the first and second dose coverage is less than the national average.
Maha records highest spike of 23 Omicron cases, tally zooms to 88
Alarm bells sounded as Maharashtra recorded the highest spike of Omicron cases (23), so far, taking the state’s tally to 88, besides an increase in Covid-19 infections, health officials said on Thursday.
Of the new cases, 18 are fully vaccinated, one not inoculated and four are minors, and comprise 13 from Pune, five from Mumbai, 2 each from Thane and Osmanabad, and one from Nagpur.
