Citing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in southeast Asia and parts of Europe, the Center has requested that States resume monitoring influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections to ensure that no early warning signs are missed and COVID-19 is contained.
For the government, testing for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases has been a cornerstone of COVID management. The testings, however, were halted recently as India has seen a steady decline in COVID-19 cases.
Patients hospitalized with ILI or SARI will once again be tested for COVID-19, and positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing as part of the intensified surveillance. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to all States and Union Territories requesting that they ensure that an adequate number of samples is submitted to the INSACOG network for the timely detection of new COIVD variants.
He also emphasized the importance of adhering to protocol, taking all necessary precautions, and not letting down one’s guard when resuming economic and social activities. “Effective surveillance, including monitoring of emerging clusters of new cases, testing in accordance with standards, and monitoring of ILI and SARI cases, shall be conducted on an ongoing basis to ensure that no early warning signals are missed and infection spread can be controlled,” Mr. Bhushan wrote in the letter.
The Centre has chaired a high-level meeting amid rising in COVID-19
Additionally, he stated that the state apparatus should raise necessary awareness and ensure compliance with COVID-appropriate behavior and effective hand- and respiratory hygiene. With an increase in COVID-19 cases across Southeast Asia and some European countries, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting on March 16 at which States were advised to focus on aggressive genome sequencing, increased surveillance, and overall vigilance on the COVID situation, Mr. Bhushan stated in the letter.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a five-pronged approach of testing, tracking, treating, and vaccination, as well as adherence to COVID-appropriate behavior. “All States and Union Territories must take all necessary precautions and remain vigilant when resuming economic and social activities,” Mr. Bhushan stated.
“It is also critical that States ensure that all eligible individuals receive COVID-19 vaccinations in accordance with the recent expansion of the vaccination drive,” he added.
India reports 2,528 new COVID-19 cases, resulting in 149 deaths
With 2,528 new COVID-19 cases reported in a single day, India’s infection count now stands at 4,30,04,005, while the number of active cases has fallen below 30,000 for the first time in approximately 685 days, the Union Health Ministry reported on March 18.
“The death toll from the disease has risen to 5,16,281, with 149 deaths occurring daily,” Ministry data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The number of active cases has decreased to 29,181, accounting for 0.07 percent of total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.73 percent, according to the Health Ministry.
The country’s active COVID-19 caseload decreased by 1,618 cases in a 24-hour period, according to the data. The Ministry also noted a sustained decline in weekly and daily positivity rates. Both were 0.40 percent, the report added. Over the last 24 hours, a total of 6,33,867 COVID-19 tests have been performed.
India has tested for the disease over 78.18 crore times so far. The number of people who have recovered from the disease has increased to 4,24,58,543, with a case fatality rate of 1.20 percent, according to the data. The cumulative number of doses administered in the country as part of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign has surpassed 180.97 crores.
On August 7, 2020, India’s COVID-19 infection count exceeded 20,000; 30 lakh on August 23; 40 lakh on September 5; 50 lakh on September 16; 60 lakh on September 28; 70 lakh on October 11; 80 lakh on October 29; 90 lakh on November 20; and one million on December 19, 2020.
On May 4, 2021, the country passed the grim milestone of two crore cases, and three crores on June 23. Among the 149 new fatalities, 130 are from Kerala. So far, the country has reported 5,16,281 COVID-19 deaths, including 1,43,762 in Maharashtra, 67,138 in Kerala, 40,028 in Karnataka, 38,025 in Tamil Nadu, 26,145 in Delhi, 23,492 in Uttar Pradesh, and 21,192 in West Bengal.
The Health Ministry emphasized that more than 70% of deaths were caused by comorbidities. “Our figures are currently being reconciled with those of the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the Ministry stated on its website, adding that the distribution of figures by the state is subject to additional verification and reconciliation.