NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review Covid-related situation and public health preparedness in view of the recent surge in coronavirus cases.
As per the daily Union health ministry bulletin, India recorded a single-day rise of 1,134 Covid cases — the highest so far this year. The active cases have increased to 7,026. The death toll climbed to 5,30,813 with five fresh deaths. The daily positivity was recorded at 1.09%, while the weekly positivity was pegged stood at 0.98%.
Revised guidelines
On March 19, the health ministry had issued revised guidelines for Covid-19 in the wake of the surge in cases.
“Antibiotics should not be used unless there is clinical suspicion of bacterial infection. The possibility of coinfection of Covid-19 with other endemic infections must be considered. Systemic corticosteroids are not indicated in mild disease,” revised guidelines said.
The revise rules highlighted the need to maintain physical distancing and use masks.
“Seek immediate medical attention if difficulty breathing, high-grade fever/severe cough, particularly if lasting for more than 5 days. A low threshold is to be kept for those with any of the high-risk features,” the guidelines read.
Additionally, in moderate or severe diseases at high risk of progression, the guidelines recommend “Remdesivir for up to 5 days (200 mg IV on day 1 followed by 100 mg IV OD for the next 4 days”.
Letter to five states
On March 16, the Union health ministry had written to the state governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to follow a five-fold strategy of test, track, treat and vaccinations as these states witnessed a rise in Covid-19 cases.
“There are a few states which are reporting higher number of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection and there is a need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent & contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in the letter.
Bhushan advised the states to examine the situation of Covid-19 at micro-level and maintain focus on implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of the disease, duly ensuring effective compliance with various advisories issued by the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, cases of a new sub-variant H3N2 is increasing as the virus is quickly spreading across the country, and its cases are also coming to the fore.
(With inputs from agencies)
As per the daily Union health ministry bulletin, India recorded a single-day rise of 1,134 Covid cases — the highest so far this year. The active cases have increased to 7,026. The death toll climbed to 5,30,813 with five fresh deaths. The daily positivity was recorded at 1.09%, while the weekly positivity was pegged stood at 0.98%.
Revised guidelines
On March 19, the health ministry had issued revised guidelines for Covid-19 in the wake of the surge in cases.
“Antibiotics should not be used unless there is clinical suspicion of bacterial infection. The possibility of coinfection of Covid-19 with other endemic infections must be considered. Systemic corticosteroids are not indicated in mild disease,” revised guidelines said.
The revise rules highlighted the need to maintain physical distancing and use masks.
“Seek immediate medical attention if difficulty breathing, high-grade fever/severe cough, particularly if lasting for more than 5 days. A low threshold is to be kept for those with any of the high-risk features,” the guidelines read.
Additionally, in moderate or severe diseases at high risk of progression, the guidelines recommend “Remdesivir for up to 5 days (200 mg IV on day 1 followed by 100 mg IV OD for the next 4 days”.
Letter to five states
On March 16, the Union health ministry had written to the state governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to follow a five-fold strategy of test, track, treat and vaccinations as these states witnessed a rise in Covid-19 cases.
“There are a few states which are reporting higher number of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection and there is a need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent & contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in the letter.
Bhushan advised the states to examine the situation of Covid-19 at micro-level and maintain focus on implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of the disease, duly ensuring effective compliance with various advisories issued by the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, cases of a new sub-variant H3N2 is increasing as the virus is quickly spreading across the country, and its cases are also coming to the fore.
(With inputs from agencies)