New Delhi: The Centre Thursday advised all states to maintain a strict watch, take pre-emptive measures and increase testing to control any emerging spread of Covid infection.
“In the week ending June 8, 4,207 average daily new cases were reported as compared to 2,663 average daily new cases in the week ending June 1. There has also been an increase in daily positivity rate from 0.63 per cent to 1.12 per cent,” said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in the letter.
“Given the significance of adequate testing in early identification of cases and providing an accurate picture of the level of infection spread, it is required that states/UTs must ensure high level of testing in all such areas that are reporting new cases/cluster of cases,” the health secretary added.
The Centre has also asked the states to enhance monitoring of Influenza like Illness (ILI) in all health facilities on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of infection spread. The states have also been advised to ensure compliance with Covid protocols and advisories.
“Genome sequencing of prescribed samples of international passengers as well as collection of samples from Sentinel sites and local cluster of new Covid cases is equally important. Such samples must be sent promptly by the state/UT to the designated lab for genome sequencing,” the government said.
Out of the total 7,240 new cases in the last 24 hours, 81 per cent of cases have been reported from four states – Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala and Karnataka.
