As Covid makes its unwelcome entry into Haryana, the health department springs into action following the confirmation of six positive cases, including a 42-year-old woman from Gurugram. Despite the confirmation of Covid cases, there’s a sigh of relief as the new sub-variant JN.1 of the Omicron variant is yet to be verified. Health officials are leaving no stone unturned, sending all suspicious samples for testing and emphasizing the importance of genome sequencing.
The woman from Gurugram, displaying mild symptoms of Covid such as a cough and sore throat, has been placed in home isolation, showcasing the proactive measures taken by the health department. Currently, 87 suspected patients have been identified, with 19 awaiting test results. Fortunately, there have been no reported cases of the new sub-variant in the state. However, the health department remains vigilant and prepared for any challenging circumstances.
In response to the rising cases, the government has mandated RTPCR tests for patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). State Home and Health Minister Anil Vij advocates for declaring Covid-19 a notified disease, ensuring that private hospitals promptly inform the Chief Medical Officer and government hospitals about any cases.
With the recent surge in Covid cases across states, including Haryana, the health department is on high alert. Six fresh cases have emerged, with two new cases reported on Sunday, adding to the complexity. The health department is actively managing the situation, placing a woman with mild symptoms in home isolation and collecting samples from around 100 suspected patients. Despite a woman returning from abroad testing positive, the confirmation of the new variant JN-1 is pending.
Reflecting on the past experiences during the initial wave, where Gurugram was a hotspot for infections among travelers, the government is taking precautionary measures. Anil Vij underscores the importance of mandatory RT-PCR tests for ILI and SARI cases, proposing Covid-19 be declared a notifiable disease for streamlined reporting. The health minister assures that Haryana, equipped with 238 PSA plants, has successfully handled the disease before and is fully prepared to navigate through this resurgence.
