Centre Releases Fresh Guidelines Amid Rise In Covid Cases

New Delhi: Amid a spike in coronavirus cases reported nationwide, the Health Ministry released a fresh set of guidelines on Saturday.

“In the past several weeks, Covid-19 testing has declined in some states and the current testing levels are insufficient compared to the standards prescribed by WHO i.e 140 tests/million. Testing at the level of districts and blocks also varies, with some states heavily relying on the less sensitive rapid antigen tests,” the communication to states, UTs read.

The health ministry warned that it is critical to maintaining optimum testing for Covid-19, equitably distributed (with suitable modifications to address the emergence of new clusters of Covid cases) across the states.

“This is especially important to identify any emerging hotspots and take pre-emptive steps to curb virus transmission,” the order read.

“While this may present a clinical dilemma for the attending doctors in terms of diagnosis, this also renders both these diseases easily preventable by following simple public health measures like avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, maintaining hand hygiene, etc,” the health ministry said.

In order to curb transmission of the virus, the government issued an advisory to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene. These include:

• Avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, particularly by co-morbid persons and the elderly
• Wearing of masks by doctors, paramedics and other healthcare works as well as patients and their attendants within health care facilities
• Wearing of masks in crowded and closed settings
• Using a handkerchief or tissue to cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing
• Maintaining hand hygiene and frequently washing of hands
• Avoiding spitting in public places
• Promoting testing and early reporting of symptoms
• Limiting personal contact if suffering from respiratory diseases

MOCK DRILL ON COVID PREPAREDNESS IN APRIL

The Union Health Ministry also asked the states to take stock of hospital preparedness, including drugs, beds including lCU beds; medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resources on existing guidelines, and vaccination coverage.

The order stated that a nationwide mock drill is being planned on April 10 and 11, wherein health facilities (both public and private) from all districts are expected to participate.

The details of the mock-drill will be communicated to the states in a virtual meeting scheduled on March 27.