On the day the Center classified 11 states / UT as “States of Serious Concern” due to their high and growing number of daily cases and deaths, several states moved on Friday to take action and place restrictions on movement to contain the increase. of Covid-19 cases.
Stating that these states / UT – Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana – have contributed 90% of Covid cases and 90.5% of the deaths (as of March 31) in the past 14 days, and have crossed or are close to crossing their reported peaks in the past year, the Center said the situation was particularly worrying in Maharashtra.
In Mumbai, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in a speech to the state, failed to announce a shutdown, but warned that a decision may need to be made in the next two days after consultations with experts and political leaders.
Third phase of India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Pune on Friday. (Express photo: Pavan Khengre)
On Friday, Maharashtra counted 47,827 new cases of Covid-19, the highest since the pandemic began last year. Maharashtra’s case count is now 29.04 lakh, of which 3.89 lakh of cases are active.
Thackeray warned that If cases continue to increase at the current rate, the state will lack medical staff even as the health infrastructure expands.
He said restrictions should be imposed to avoid overcrowding. He attacked political opponents for threatening to protest the shutdown, saying they should help the administration address the crisis.
“Today I warn about the total closure, but I do not announce it. I will speak with the experts and political leaders in the next two days. If there is no other option to block, then we will have to accept it as is, ”he said.
The question before the government, he said, was how to break the chain of infection.
The concern: rural and semi-rural
What is of particular concern is that Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns, along with peri-urban areas, are reporting an increase in Covid-19 cases. Health officials warn that the spread of the infection to rural areas with weak health infrastructure could overwhelm the entire health system.
In New Delhi, at a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, attended by chief secretaries, DGP and senior health officials from the states, the Center told states that Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities together With peri-urban areas, they are reporting an increase that is worrying and the spread of infection to rural areas with weak health infrastructure could overwhelm the health system.
Tourist waiting to get tested for coronavirus at Gateway of India on Friday. (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
On Friday, the country reported a record 81,466 new cases and 469 deaths in the last 24 hours. The Center told states that the country has reached the “critical figure” of 81,000 new cases of Covid per day: there were 97,000 new cases of Covid per day at the peak of the pandemic in September 2020.
The total number of active cases in the country has reached 6,14,696 cases and five states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab) cumulatively account for 77.91 percent of total active cases.
During the meeting, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan made a detailed presentation on the deteriorating situation, specifically noting the situation in Maharashtra: the state alone accounts for almost 60 percent of the country’s total active cases.
The Center noted that 11 states showing a surge have not shown a commensurate increase in containment activities. He ordered them to establish micro-containment zones and ensure the tracing and isolation of 30 close contacts of each infected person within 72 hours.
States were specifically asked to:
* Increase the tests continuously to make sure the positivity drops to 5% or less than 5%.
* Focus on ensuring that RT-PCR tests comprise 70% of total tests.
* Reduce waiting time for test results with regular review with test labs.
* Use rapid antigen tests (RAT) as a screening test in densely populated areas and where new groups are emerging.
* All symptomatic RAT negatives must be subjected to RT-PCR tests.
* Guarantee the rapid and effective isolation of those infected in institutional facilities (Covid Care Centers).
* Ensure that patients isolated at home are monitored daily. Isolated infected persons should be immediately transferred to health facilities, if necessary.
* Make sure 25-30 close contacts can be traced for each infected person. Tracing of close contacts and their isolation will take place within 72 hours. Further testing and follow-up will be done on all close contacts.
* Establishment of Containment Zones / Micro Containment Zones to break the chain of transmission.
States were also asked to examine the fatality rate in the hospital setting, develop an appropriate strategy, and mitigate concerns about late admission to hospitals and non-compliance with the National Protocol for Clinical Management. Emphasis was placed on the need to formulate district action plans with a focus on mapping cases, review of neighborhood / block indicators, 24 × 7 emergency operations center, incident command system (specific rapid response team of the area and the timely exchange of information).
In order to minimize daily deaths, the States were advised on the strengthening of public and private health resources. They were specifically asked to:
* Increase the number of isolation beds, oxygen beds, ventilators / ICU beds as per requirement.
* Plan an adequate oxygen supply.
* Strengthen the ambulance service and reduce response time and rejection rate with regular monitoring by the local administration.
* Ensure an adequate number of contract personnel and an optimal list of functions.
* Plan regular teleconsultation of ICU physicians in AIIMS districts, New Delhi core team or state core team. AIIMS, New Delhi, conducts teleconsultation twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
* The strict application of the COVID Appropriate Behavior (CAB) was reiterated. The following were highlighted for immediate compliance by States / UT:
* Use of the Police Law, Disaster Management Law and other legal / administrative provisions to impose penalties on defaulters.
* Use of local officials, political, cultural, sports, religious influencers to disseminate information appropriate to the use of masks and maintaining physical distance.
* Focus on markets, fairs / melas, social and religious congregations that could become popular events.
To saturate vaccination for priority age groups in districts reporting an increase in daily Covid cases, states and UT were reported as follows:
* Time-bound 100% vaccination plan for eligible healthcare workers, frontline workers, and eligible age groups.
* Coordination with the Union Ministry of Health to ensure adequate doses of vaccine.
* Daily review of consumption of each Point of the Cold Chain at the state level, for the required reappropriation.
Meanwhile, states began to move to impose restrictions on movements.
In Pune, restaurants, hotels and bars were ordered to close for a week and gatherings were banned. The exceptions were 50 guests to a wedding and 20 people to a funeral. The nightly curfew will be in effect from 6 pm to 6 am.
In Chhattisgarh, 22 of the 28 districts have imposed night curfews from 9 pm to 6 am. A confinement has
was announced in the Durg district from April 6-14 – the district has the highest number of active cases – 9,883 as of April 1 – and has had more than 750 Covid-related deaths.
The Uttarakhand government has recommended incoming travelers from 12 states to carry negative RT-PCR reports to enter Uttarakhand. This restriction would apply to people traveling by road, air and train to Uttarakhand from 12 states: Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. The government notice said the RT-PCR test should have been done 72 hours before arrival time.
Rajasthan decided to extend the night curfew by one hour. The night curfew is now in effect between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in 10 cities, including Jaipur.
Markets and commercial establishments must close at 9:00 p.m. Classes 1-5 in all educational institutions are closed.
In Uttar Pradesh, schools have been told to close classes for students until Class 8 until April 11.
Karnataka suspended classes for students until Class 9, and also classes for higher, professional and medical courses, except for board / university exams. Only people will be allowed in places of worship. Gyms and swimming pools must be closed, and all rallies and dharnas are prohibited.
– With ENS reports
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