Covid Alert: MHA cautions states over fresh surge during festive seasons

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla dashed letters to all states and UTs asking them for continuous focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour.

New Delhi: Stating that large scale gatherings in fairs, festivals and religious functions may lead to a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday asked all state and UTs to take all precautions to avoid the possibility of a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla dashed letters to all states and UTs asking them for continuous focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour.

"The state government and UT administration should continue with their vaccination programme with a focus to accelerate vaccination of eligible age groups and prioritisation of second dose to eligible beneficiaries," the letter written to all chief secretaries and administrators of UTs said.

The daily Covid-19 cases and the overall number of Covid-19 patients in the country are declining steadily. However, there are still localised spreads of virus in a few states and Covid-19 still continues to be a public health challenge in our country, the home secretary said.

"With the decline in Covid-19 cases, there is a possibility that Covid appropriate behaviour is not adhered to strictly especially during the upcoming festivals. It is therefore critical to enforce adherence to guidelines which allows regular festivities in a cautious, safe and Covid appropriate manner," the Home Secretary said in his letter.

Utmost vigil has to be maintained in respect of mass gathering events, so as to avoid any possibility of surge in Covid-19 cases, he said.

He suggested that states and UTs should closely monitor case positivity, hospital/ICU bed occupancy of every district falling under their jurisdiction.

"The state government and UT administration concerned, having high positivity in their districts, should take proactive containment measures so as to effectively arrest the spike in cases and to contain the spread of transmission," Bhalla said in his letter.

It is important to identify warning signs of potential surges early on and to take appropriate measures to curb the spread, Bhalla said.