Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 10: In light of an increase in Covid-19 cases, a countrywide drill is scheduled for today and tomorrow to assess public and private hospitals’ emergency preparations.
At the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Jhajjar, Haryana, Mansukh Mandaviya, the union minister of health, would be in charge of the exercise.
In the review meeting held last week, Mansukh Mandaviya requested that state health ministers remain vigilant and assess the readiness of medical institutions.
The five-step approach of “Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour” remains the tried-and-true method for managing Covid, according to what he had mentioned.
The health minister told in an exclusive interview that the government is equipped to handle the current uptick in infections. He said that there is a weekly assessment of preparation and that ICU beds, oxygen supplies, and other critical care plans are in place.
The health minister warned that there should be alertness for a potential fourth wave of the COVID epidemic. According to him, the most recent Covid mutation was the Omicron BF.7 sub-variant, and the current XBB1.16 sub-variant is what is driving the increase in infections. He said that in the ministry’s experience, sub-variants are not very harmful.
Since the previous several days, COVID-19 instances have increased across the majority of the nation. As a result, some states have made masks once again required, while others have issued cautionary advice.
Pregnant women, the elderly, and those with lifestyle diseases are required to wear masks in Kerala, while Uttar Pradesh has issued a “high-priority” directive for authorities to guarantee that international travellers are screened at all airports.
The governments of Delhi, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh have all asked their people to follow Covid acceptable behaviour.
