Union Health Secretary takes stock of Covid-19 situation, asks for vaccine distribution status

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan reviewed the situation of Covid-19 in maximum caseload states. He has asked States to increase testing and strict adherence to social distancing norms.

New Delhi:The Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Monday took stock over the prevailing situation of Covid-19 in maximum caseload states.

Officials in the Health Ministry told ETV Bharat that secretary Bhushan has asked States to increase testing and strict adherence of social distancing norms.

Health Secretary and other concerned officials from states like Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Maharastra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat were present in the meeting that took place over video conferencing.

Bhushan has asked these states to increase testing and bring down the Covid mortality below 1 percent.

These states account 76 percent of Covid cases. In the last 24 hours, Kerala recorded 4581 cases, followed by Delhi 3235, West Bengal 3,053, Maharastra 2544, Rajasthan 2184 among others.

Ironically these states also account for 79 percent of Covid related deaths in the country. Delhi recorded highest deaths of 95 people in last 24 hours, followed by Maharastra (60), West Bengal (51), Punjab (30), Kerala (21), Karnataka (21), Uttar Pradesh (18), Odisha (17), Chhatisgarh (16) and Andhra Pradesh (14).

India's Covid-19 caseload mounted to 88,45,127 with 30,548 infections being reported in a day.

Bhushan has assured the state government officials that if necessary union health ministry will send more central team to assist the local administration in containing the pandemic.

The health secretary has also asked the state administration to increase awareness amongst people keeping in mind the ongoing festivals and coming winter. It has been predicted that Covid cases will increase manifold during this time.

"States like Delhi, West Bengal have been witnessing a spike in cases due to the ongoing festivals," officials said.

In fact, aware of the increasing number of Covid cases in the national capital, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday had a review meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LtGovernor Anil Baijal, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, and other senior concerned officials.

Among other steps, decision was taken to depute additional doctors from the central armed police force (CAPF) and increase of RT PCR tests in Delhi.

Officials aware of the development said that near about 80 doctors from CAPF stationed across India will join the fight against Covid 19 in the national capital. A total of 350 paramedics will also reach Delhi very soon.

Meanwhile, health secretary Bhushan has asked all the states for a detailed report over setting up of state steering committee, state and district task force to monitor Covid19 vaccine introduction.

Officials said that Bhushan has also asked for cold chain preparedness and status of database compilation of health care workers (HCWs) for vaccine distribution.

"As India is expecting the first Covid19 vaccine introduction in early or middle next year, the central government is taking all necessary steps for its rollout," officials said.

It may be mentioned here that health secretary Bhushan in October last dashed a letter to all states and UTs suggesting them to set up committees to monitor vaccine distribution process and cold chain system.