After initial signs of spread of Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country, Chhattisgarh on Wednesday activated the “War Room” to tackle the pandemic, followed by an advisory from the Union Health Ministry.
A press communiqué from Health Department said the War Room was established at Directorate, Health Services, Indravati Bhawan, Nava Raipur and the Nodal Officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Dr Dharmendra Gahwai has been made in-charge.
Corona would constantly be monitored from the “War Room” and anyone can take assistance of the helpline number 0771-2235091 for advice or guidance, the communiqué said. Following the instruction from Union Health Ministry, the Health Department had issued advisory to all the Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) across the state and had alerted about the spread of Omicron.
"Based on current scientific evidence, the variant of concern (VOC), Omicron, is at least 3 times more transmissible than the Delta VOC. Besides, the Delta VOC is still present in different parts of the country.
Hence, even greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making and strict & prompt containment action is required at the local and district level," said the union government advisory to state government calling for "prompt and focused" decisions by all authorities.
States need to constantly review district-level data of "population affected by Covid-19, geographical spread, hospital infrastructure and its utilization, manpower" and notify containment zones and enforce perimeter control so that "infection is contained at the local level itself before it spreads to other parts of the State", the advisory said.