PMO critiques Covid-19 state of affairs, concentrate on monitoring new variant 

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The centre on Saturday held a high-level assembly, which was chaired by P Okay Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, with well being officers and consultants to evaluate the Covid-19 state of affairs within the nation.

In the assembly, it was additionally reviewed whether or not compliance with earlier instructions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make sure preparedness and efficient administration of the pandemic was taken. 

In the wake of a surge in Covid instances in China and different East Asian international locations, the PM held a high-level assembly final week, wherein he directed to extend vigilance and surveillance and to step up testing and genome sequencing. 

Officials stated genome sequencing of round 500 samples collected in December is being executed at INSACOG labs throughout the nation. In the assembly, new rising variants, together with BF.7, which is driving a surge in China, have been mentioned. 

In the assembly, it was additionally knowledgeable that strengthening complete genome sequencing (WGS) and guaranteeing {that a} extra vital variety of samples are despatched from throughout the nation to INSACOG Network is being executed, in response to the instructions of the PM.

As many as 1,716 worldwide flights have been screened, and 5,666 samples have been collected for Covid-19 testing.  Around 53 worldwide travellers examined constructive for Covid-19 throughout two per cent random testing at airports throughout the nation.

Mishra has been apprised of the evolving international situation of the pandemic with the surge in Covid noticed in some international locations, together with China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil and so forth.

India has already introduced that travellers from China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea would wish an RT-PCR report from January 1. They need to add Covid detrimental report on Air Suvidha, and the take a look at needs to be executed 72 hours earlier than their journey.

In the assembly, the main focus was on enhancing consciousness about Covid-appropriate behaviour, strengthening surveillance, together with ramping up testing throughout the nation, and uptake of coronavirus precautionary doses, officers stated.

It was knowledgeable that in response to the prime minister’s instructions, mock drills throughout all well being services have been carried out on December 27.

All states and union territories participated within the drills to make sure operational readiness of Covid-dedicated services with a particular concentrate on oxygen crops, ventilators, logistics and human assets.  

Official sources stated 21,097 services carried out the mock drill, of which 16,108 have been authorities services. 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who has additionally held separate evaluate conferences with pharma corporations to make sure ample inventory, and availability, had personally reviewed the mock drill on the centre-run Safdarjung Hospital. He had additionally chaired a digital evaluate assembly with state well being ministers on Covid-19 on December 23.

According to the instructions, the Ministry of Commerce has been requested to watch ongoing exports of medicinal merchandise and gear to China, official sources stated.

NEW DELHI: The centre on Saturday held a high-level assembly, which was chaired by P Okay Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, with well being officers and consultants to evaluate the Covid-19 state of affairs within the nation.

In the assembly, it was additionally reviewed whether or not compliance with earlier instructions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make sure preparedness and efficient administration of the pandemic was taken. 

In the wake of a surge in Covid instances in China and different East Asian international locations, the PM held a high-level assembly final week, wherein he directed to extend vigilance and surveillance and to step up testing and genome sequencing. 

Officials stated genome sequencing of round 500 samples collected in December is being executed at INSACOG labs throughout the nation. In the assembly, new rising variants, together with BF.7, which is driving a surge in China, have been mentioned. 

In the assembly, it was additionally knowledgeable that strengthening complete genome sequencing (WGS) and guaranteeing {that a} extra vital variety of samples are despatched from throughout the nation to INSACOG Network is being executed, in response to the instructions of the PM.

As many as 1,716 worldwide flights have been screened, and 5,666 samples have been collected for Covid-19 testing.  Around 53 worldwide travellers examined constructive for Covid-19 throughout two per cent random testing at airports throughout the nation.

Mishra has been apprised of the evolving international situation of the pandemic with the surge in Covid noticed in some international locations, together with China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil and so forth.

India has already introduced that travellers from China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea would wish an RT-PCR report from January 1. They need to add Covid detrimental report on Air Suvidha, and the take a look at needs to be executed 72 hours earlier than their journey.

In the assembly, the main focus was on enhancing consciousness about Covid-appropriate behaviour, strengthening surveillance, together with ramping up testing throughout the nation, and uptake of coronavirus precautionary doses, officers stated.

It was knowledgeable that in response to the prime minister’s instructions, mock drills throughout all well being services have been carried out on December 27.

All states and union territories participated within the drills to make sure operational readiness of Covid-dedicated services with a particular concentrate on oxygen crops, ventilators, logistics and human assets.  

Official sources stated 21,097 services carried out the mock drill, of which 16,108 have been authorities services. 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who has additionally held separate evaluate conferences with pharma corporations to make sure ample inventory, and availability, had personally reviewed the mock drill on the centre-run Safdarjung Hospital. He had additionally chaired a digital evaluate assembly with state well being ministers on Covid-19 on December 23.

According to the instructions, the Ministry of Commerce has been requested to watch ongoing exports of medicinal merchandise and gear to China, official sources stated.