Amid concerns about rising Omicron variant, the Centre on Friday cautioned Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha and Mizoram to take necessary steps under the “Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Covid Appropriate Behaviour” strategy to curb the spread of Covid-19 and fatality. These States have been reporting surge in infections, weekly positivity rates and weekly deaths.
In a letter to these States, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Saturday advised them to undertake enhanced surveillance of international travellers, monitor emerging hotspots, prompt contact-tracing of positive people, and send all positive samples for genome sequencing. He also asked them to undertake early identification of cases and review of health infrastructure preparedness, and most importantly, to focus on community sensitisation.
He pointed out that Karnataka has reported 8,073 new cases in the month ending December 3 (30 days) and witnessed a slight increase in weekly new cases to 2,272 cases (week ending December 3) from 1,664 cases (week ending November 26), along with an increase in weekly new deaths from 22 to 29 over the same period.
An increase in weekly new deaths has been noted in Bengaluru Urban, from eight new deaths reported in the week ending November 25 to 14 deaths in the week ending December 2, he said.
Rise in weekly cases have also been noted in Tumakuru, Dharwad and Mysuru in the southern State.
Similarly, Kerala has reported 1,71,521 new cases in the month ending December 3, with a contribution of 55.8 per cent to the country’s new cases from over the past month.
“Also, 13 out of 14 districts are reporting a high number of weekly new cases in the State. Districts of concern in the week ending December 2 are Thiruvananthapuram (5,541), Ernakulam, (4,976), Kozhikode (3,676), Thrissur (2,903) and Kottayam (2,478),” Bhushan noted.
Four districts --Thiruvananthapuram (11.61 per cent), Wayanad (11.25 per cent), Kozhikode (11 per cent) and Kottayam (10.81 per cent) -- are showing high weekly positivity of more than 10 per cent, while nine districts are reporting weekly positivity between 5-10 per cent.
Four other districts -- Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kollam -- are reporting high quantum of weekly new deaths in the state.
As for Jammu & Kashmir, Bhushan said, it has reported 4,806 new cases in the month ending December 3, with a few districts such as Kathua, Jammu, Ganderbal and Baramulla showing an increase in the previous week.
Tamil Nadu has reported 23,764 new cases during the same period. Vellore, Thiruvallur in Chennai showed an increase in weekly new cases in the past week while Odisha has reported 7,445 new cases during the same period, with a contribution of 2.5 per cent to India’s new cases from over the past month.
“It is important to note that Khordha district in the State is reporting a high quantum of weekly new cases with 900 new cases reported in the week ending December 3. Further, six out of 30 districts ---Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Kendujhar, Anugul and Balangir-- reported an increase in the weekly caseload as compared to the week ending November 26,” he said. Mizoram has reported 12,562 new cases in the month ending December 4, with a contribution of 4.1 per cent to India’s new cases from over the past month.
“Aizawl district is reporting a high quantum of weekly new cases with 1,079 new cases reported in the week ending December 3.
“Further, four out of 11 districts -- Saiha, Khawzawl, Serchhip, Mamit -- reported an increase in the week ending December 3, as compared to the week ending November 26. Also, eight out of 11 districts are showing high weekly positivity of more than 10 per cent, Bhushan said in his letter.