CENTRE ASKS STATES, UTS TO INCREASE COVID TESTING IMMEDIATELY

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wrote to all states and Union Territories and asked them “to immediately increase testing in a strategic manner keeping in view the trend of case positivity in specific areas”, even as 2.38 lakh new Covid cases were reported in the country on Tuesday.

In a letter, Additional Secretary (Health) Arti Ahuja said that the data available on the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) portal shows a decline in the COVID tests in many states and Union Territories amid rising cases due to Omicron which has been declared as the Variant of Concern (VoC) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Listing the basic objective of COVID testing as early detection of cases for quick isolation and care, and additionally it being a key strategy for pandemic management, Ahuja said, “Identification of new clusters and new hotspots of infections which can, in turn, facilitate immediate action for containment such as setting up of containment zones, contact tracing, quarantining, isolation and follow up. This can enable the State and district administration to curb the spread of infection.”

“Ensuring reduction in mortality and morbidity. Progression of disease to a severe category can be averted by strategic testing of those who are at high risk and more vulnerable, as well as in areas where the spread is likely to be higher,” she added.

Further, the letter mentioned that all those who are symptomatic, and the at-risk contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases must be tested.

“…pay immediate attention and increase the testing in a strategic manner keeping in view the trend of case positivity in specific geographies within your States/UTs,” the letter read.

Meanwhile, Karnataka clocked very high numbers at 41,457 new cases on Tuesday, with numbers in Bengaluru shooting up to 25,595 new cases. Maharashtra recorded 39,207 new cases in the last 24 hours. Delhi registered 11,684 new cases in the last 24 hours.