Rising Covid cases: Centre writes 6 states to raise guard

New Delhi: The Centre has written to six states directing them to take particular care in controlling rising Covid-19 cases after a considerable rise in infections was detected. The Union Health Ministry wrote Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, directing them to step-up testing, treating, tracking and vaccinations, NDTV reported.

The letter said that there are few states which are reporting a higher number of cases which indicates a possible local transmission of the disease. There is a need for a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the virus without losing the gains made in the fight against it so far, the letter said.

The health ministry data suggested that Thursday reported more than 700 cases which is the highest in four months, and the active case pool had reached 4,623. It was on November 12 last, and India recorded 734 cases.

The letter suggested that the state must maintain strict watch and take pre-emptive action in the required areas of concern. States must examine the covid situation at the micro-level, i.e. district and subdistrict levels. They should focus on implementing necessary measures and duly ensure effective compliance with preventive measures issued by the health ministry.

Active cases contribute to 0.01 per cent of the total infections in the country, and the national Covid-19 recovery rate is at 98.80. When those recovered from the illness reached 4,41,57,297, the case fatality rate was 1.19 per cent. The number of vaccine doses administered reached 220.64 crores.