In a virtual meeting on December 23rd, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the situation with State health secretaries and it was observed that the next hotspots can be those places – where there have been fewer cases in the first and second wave of Covid 19. Due to fewer cases, people have not come forward for sufficient vaccination and this could lead them to become susceptible to Omicron.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed public health preparedness of the States for fighting COVID19 and the Omicron variant. He highlighted the trajectory of COVID and brought attention to emerging evidence on the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the growing number of cases worldwide.
The local situation and population characteristics must decide on containment measures and restrictions. Any restriction must be enforced for a minimum of 14 days. With the Omicron variant mimicking common cold the transmission rate is expected to be high. Central government has advised States to follow these methods for tackling the variant:
1. Impose night curfews and strict regulations for gatherings ahead of festivities.
2. Notify containment and buffer zones where Covid positive cases are noted.
3. Send cluster samples to INSACOG Labs for genome sequencing.
4. Increase testing and surveillance in all districts and keep a close watch on Delta and Omicron variants.
5. Door-to-door case search in containment areas must be done.
6. International travelers and those testing positive for Covid 19 their contacts must be traced and tested.
7. Clinical management in terms of hospital beds, medicines and oxygen equipment must be available for those who are critical and serious.
8. Strict enforcement of home quarantine rules.
9. Covid Appropriate Behavior of masks must be followed strictly in public places.
10. Vaccination must be expedited in the eligible population and those who have not come forward for the second dose must be urged to come forward for the benefit of all.
The meeting was attended by Arti Ahuja, additional secretary (health), Vikash Sheel, additional secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Dr Mandeep Bhandari, joint secretary (health), Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and scientists from Indian Council of Medical Research along with others.
