'Maintain strict vigil': Centre directs 4 states amid rise in Covid-19 cases

These states have reported an upsurge in the number of daily news cases in recent days and comprise 59% of the total active cases in the country.

In the Health Secretary's letter, the states have been advised to maintain a ‘strict vigil’ and to take steps to keep a check on the rising cases, especially in view of the new strain of the virus being observed in certain countries which have also been reported in a few states in India.

Bhushan has drawn the attention of the states to the low and declining testing rates, noting that any laxity at this crucial junction may "squander the results of our collective actions in containing the transmission".

They have been advised to analyse the surge at the district and sub-district levels to understand the reasons for this rise and plan adequate measures proactively to curb the same.

Aggressively implementation of the ‘Test-Track-Treat” strategy adopted by the country has been strongly advised now more than ever by the Union Health Secretary.

The health authorities in the states have also been advised to proactively promote the wearing of masks and other COVID appropriate behaviours even while the vaccination drive is about to begin.

"It is important to ensure that there is no complacency in the collective efforts in containment and management of Covid-19," the Health Secretary has strongly reiterated.

The states have been assured of all necessary support of the Health Ministry required to manage the pandemic.

The total COVID-19 cases in Kerala are 7,90,882 which form 7.61 pct of the total cases.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, the total cases stand at 19,54,553 accounting for 18.80% of the national figure.

A total of 18,52,759 patients have recovered in the state resulting in the recovery rate of 94.79 per cent.

Chhattisgarh has registered 2,85,586 total cases (with per cent share in total being 2.75%) and 2,73,030 total number of recoveries with a recovery rate of 95.60 per cent.

The eastern state of West Bengal has reported 5,57,252 total cases contributing 5.36 pct while the recovery rate stands at 96.64 pct. It has 8,868 active cases comprising 3.89 per cent of the national figure.

Worryingly, India now has over 70 cases of the new mutant strain of coronavirus, which is considered to be more infectious.

Overall India has 2,29 lakh active cases and has reported over 1.5 lakh deaths since the pandemic began in December 2019.

The Centre on Tuesday informed that Covid-19 vaccines will be ready for rollout in 10 days from the emergency use authorisation date based on feedback from the dry run.

Two Covid-19 vaccine candidates-Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India's Covishield-on Sunday received the approval of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use in India.