News Brief
'Health Not An Area For Politics': Union Minister Mandaviya Asks States To Ramp Up Preparedness Amid Covid-19 Surge
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
As Covid-19 cases surge rapidly across the country, a high-level review meeting was conducted on Wednesday (20 December) by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The meeting focused on respiratory diseases and the escalating coronavirus situation, and was attended by Mandaviya's state counterparts and high-ranking officials.
The Health Minister emphasized the importance of unity and a comprehensive governmental approach during this time. He underscored the need for vigilance without giving in to panic. He further stressed the importance of preparation through hospital readiness mock drills, enhanced monitoring, and efficient communication with the public.
“Let us do mock drill in all hospitals once every three months. I assure all support of the Centre to states,” Mandaviya added, saying that health is not an area of politics, News18 reported.
The sources stated that Union Health Ministers, along with Additional Chief/Principal Secretaries (Health) from all States/UTs, and pertinent Central Ministries/Departments, are focusing on the readiness of health facilities and services in light of the recent increase in respiratory diseases, such as Influenza Like Illness/Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (ILI/SARI), which includes Covid-19.
In light of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases and the identification of the first instance of the new JN.1 variant in Kerala, the Health Ministry has issued a notice to all states and Union Territories, emphasising the need of continuously monitoring the situation.
“Considering the upcoming festive season, states were advised to put in place requisite public health measures and other arrangements to minimize the risk of increase in transmission of the disease by adherence to the maintenance of respiratory hygiene,” the advisory read.
The Union Health Ministry has also instructed states to ensure adequate Covid testing in all the districts as per guidelines and maintain the recommended share of RT-PCR and Antigen tests.
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