Mask up in crowded places, boost surveillance and keep hospitals ready: PM Modi's big messages at Covid meet

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, December 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cautioned against any complacency in respect of Covid and directed heightened surveillance especially at international airports for timely detection of newer, more transmissible variants.

Chairing a high-level review meeting in the wake of Covid surge in China and some other countries, the prime minister delivered five major messages to attending ministers, states and UTs and people—focus on increased genome sequencing and Covid testing; ensure hospital readiness; adhere to Covid protocols; mask up in crowded places and administer boosters doses with priority to the elderly and the vulnerable.

The meeting decided to continue with the strategy of randomly testing 2 pc of all foreign arrivals to detect any new variants rather then consider a ban on flights to and from the affected countries.

Sources said the Covid situation would be monitored closely and a call taken later on whether the previous tool of Air Suvidha needed to be revived in respect of nations witnessing a surge.

Air Suvidha forms made it mandatory for inbound international travellers to give details of RT-PCR tests conducted 72 hours prior to travel and their vaccination proof.

At today’s review meet attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and top officials, the PM monitored preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of Covid vaccination and emergence of new Covid-19 variants and their public health implications for the country.

“The Prime Minister cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil. He reiterated that Covid is not over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at the international airports,” a PMO statement said.

At the meeting, Member Health NITI Aayog VK Paul said India had been witnessing a steady Covid decline with average daily cases falling to 153 and weekly positivity down to 0.14% in the week ending December 22.

However, 5.9 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally since the last six weeks, PM was told.

The PM stressed the need to ensure that the entire Covid infrastructure at all levels is maintained at a high level of preparedness in terms of equipment, processes and human resources.

“The PM advised States to audit Covid specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of hospital infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources,” the official statement said.

The PM has also directed officials to ramp up testing and genomic sequencing efforts with states already advised to send all positive samples to the genome testing labs.

This is expected to support timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate early response.

The PM also urged people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times with the festive season approaching and called for masking up in crowded public places.

India has so far detected four cases of BF.7, a sub variant of Omicron which is currently driving the Chinese surge.

Earlier today, health minister Mandaviya briefed Parliament about the surge in China,  US, Japan, France, Greece, Italy and South Korea and said India was prepared to respond and random 2 pc testing of international arrivals at airports had begun.

“We are keeping an eye on the global covid situation and are taking steps accordingly. States have also been advised to increase the whole genome sequencing of all positive cases for timely detection of new variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate and undertake required public health measures,” Mandaviya said in Parliament.

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