Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be in Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal today Virtual review of Covid-19 situation, public health preparedness and response to Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in states and Chhattisgarh 3pm.

Earlier Friday, Mandaviya held a high-level meeting with southern states and Texas health ministers and highlighted e-Sanjeevani, teleconsultation, monitoring home quarantines and increasing RTPCR in states reporting a low percentage of testing.

State Health Ministers participating in the high level review meeting included Dr K Sudhakar (Karnataka), Dr Veena George (Kerala), Ma Subramaniam (Tamil Nadu) and Thanneeru Harish Rao (Telangana) ).

He also asked states to speed up the pace of vaccination for the 15-17 age group and for those with a second dose due.

Earlier, he held a high-level meeting with nine northern states and UT and advised them to send Covid testing and vaccination data in a timely manner.

The federal health minister also said testing should be ramped up in states where testing has declined.

He also advised states and UT to ensure effective monitoring of those in home isolation in accordance with national guidelines.

“This will ensure that vulnerable people in home isolation get the medical help they need in a timely manner,” he said.

Mandaviya said, based on our past experience, “test-trace-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour” and monitoring of cases remain critical to Covid management. The federal health secretary also urged states and UT to adopt the hub and speak teleconsultation model.

Mandaviya also urged the nine States and UTs to review and expedite the implementation of activities under the India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ECRP-II package) for strengthening the health infrastructure, an amount of ₹23,123 Crores which was approved by Union Cabinet in view of the second wave of the pandemic.

“Ministers of Health and national authorities are filling the existing gaps by effectively using the approved amounts for various infrastructure projects. By strengthening the health infrastructure, we can better respond to any health emergency and public health crisis,” he added.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times