House-to-house survey in 38 districts of 10 states, including Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi, June 8

The Centre today asked the states to keep district-wise prospective plans ready for future pandemic response as Covid-19 caseload reached 2,56,611 with 1,24,429 persons discharged and 7,200 deaths.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan told representatives of 45 most affected municipalities in 38 districts of 10 states, which are witnessing record surge in new cases, to focus on house-to-house surveys, carry out prompt testing and undertake active surveillance to contain the infection and reduce mortality.

The virtual meeting was attended by district collectors, municipal commissioners, chief medical officers, superintendents of district hospitals and principals of medical colleges from 45 civic bodies in Haryana, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

“States need to activate fever clinics for detection of severe acute respiratory and influenza-like illnesses in buffer zones. In view of lockdown being eased, states must make district-wise plans for the coming months,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Covid recoveries have caught up with active cases (1,24,981).

The number of persons cured of Covid-19 trails the number of those presently fighting the infection by 552 cases.

Though the cure rate remained steady at 48 per cent, consistent record increase in daily cases remained a big worry. Record 9,983 infections were reported today.

The ministry said 5,137 patients were cured over the past 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to 48.49 per cent. — TNS

Top PIB officer tests positive

New Delhi: Principal spokesperson for the government

KS Dhatwalia was on Sunday night admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi, after testing positive for Covid-19. Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB) Dhatwalia, who had been attending regular government briefings had been at work until Sunday. TNS

At 94, poet Dehalvi beats Covid-19

Noida (UP): “Us sitamgar ki meherbani se, dil ulajhta hai zindagani se” (It’s the kindness of the oppressor, that entangles me more with life). Perhaps nothing more than his own couplet can define Urdu poet Gulzar Dehalvi’s recovery from Covid-19, who at the age of 94 has defeated the infection. Anand Mohan Zutshi, famous as Gulzar Dehalvi, was admitted to a private hospital on June 1 and discharged on Sunday. PTI

Community transmission threat to be assessed

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority would hold a meeting on Tuesday to assess if Covid-19 had entered community transmission phase in Delhi

Kejri in self-quarantine, Covid test today

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has gone into self-quarantine after developing sore throat and fever. The CM, who is also a diabetic, will get himself tested for Covid on Tuesday

Delhi cases may rise to 56K in 2 weeks: Jain

According to an expert panel, as cases were doubling in 14-15 days, the caseload was likely to hit 56,000 in two weeks, said Health Minister Satyendar Jain

L-G overrules AAP govt decision

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has overruled the AAP govt order to reserve government and private hospitals for Delhiites only. The move may trigger a confrontation between the AAP dispensation and the L-G office

HC moved against order on hospitals

Four petitions were filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday challenging the Delhi Government’s order directing all state-run and also private hospitals to admit only “bonafide” residents of the Capital for treatment