New Delhi (NVI): In view of an upsurge in coronavirus cases in some districts, the central government has directed all the states to vaccinate all above 45 years of age, in the districts that are witnessing a rise in infection cases, within 2 weeks starting from April 1.
In a letter by health secretaries to all states/UTs, the Centre has asked them to expedite vaccination and ensure 100 per cent vaccination to all above 45 years in those districts that are witnessing a surge in the coronavirus cases in the past few days.
All districts must ensure saturation vaccination of priority age groups of 45 years and above in the coming two weeks, the central government has said.
Furthermore, all the states have been directed to trace 25 to 30 contacts of each coronavirus case and ensure their proper isolation.
Larger containment zones is among the steps the Centre has asked all the states to adopt to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Tuesday that each district, irrespective of whether it is seeing a surge or not, should formulate an action plan with clear timelines and responsibilities while calling for a district-centric approach to fight the upward swing in coronavirus cases.
In a letter to all chief secretaries, Rajesh Bhushan said coronavirus-appropriate behaviour must be enforced using the Police Act, or powers under the Disaster Management Act.
The states have also been asked to map cases based on surveillance activities and focused testing in areas, reviewing sub-area-wise indicators like case positivity rate, rate of growth of cases, case fatality, doubling rate of cases, on a real-time basis.
-CHK
