Across India, a total 5,137 patients were cured in the last 24 hours

In view of rising Covid-19 cases, the Centre on Monday directed 38 districts of 10 states and union territories to conduct house-to-house surveys, undertake prompt testing, prompt isolation and clinical management and implement a containment strategy.

Although, across the country, a total 5,137 patients were cured in the last 24 hours, thereby taking the total number of recovery to 1,24,430. Yet the total number of active cases have gone up to 1,24,981.

Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases.

These states, as per a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have also advised measures to be taken in the containment zones for case management, need to increase buffer zones surveillance and promotion of appropriate behaviour towards the Covid-19 disease.

“To reduce the case fatality rate, the state officials were briefed on measures to be taken like prioritizing the high-risk and vulnerable segments like elderly people and people with co-morbidities while contact-tracing to prevent deaths; active surveillance measures, adequate testing and promoting health seeking behaviour for timely detection of cases; ensuring timely shifting of patients without escalating the symptoms,” maintained, the Health Ministry statement.

With regards to the infrastructure and human resource management for the containment of COVID-19, the states were advised that adequate planning for health infrastructure should be taken up; adequate number of surveillance teams to be provided; a system to be put in place for bed availability management; centres of excellence to provide hand-holding for medical professionals and senior officers to be deployed for hospitals to offer help to citizens to find health services as per their need.

It was also highlighted that along with COVID-19 management efforts, care needs to be given to the regular and essential health services that are also available for the citizens.

It was also suggested to involve the elected representatives in the rural areas for cooperating with the district health authorities for confidence building and timely access of available health services.

States were reminded to activate the fever clinics for detection of SARI/ILI cases in the buffer zones. In view of the lockdown being eased and curbs being lifted, states were also advised to make a district wise prospective plan for the coming months.