States told to impose curbs in 27 ‘districts of concern’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 11

The Health Ministry in a letter to states on Saturday asked for local containment measures in all 27 “districts of concern” reporting more than 5 per cent positivity rate over two weeks as against the average national weekly positivity rate of 0.73 per cent.

134 returnees untraced in Faridabad

As many as 134 persons, who returned from 13 high-risk countries, remain untraced in the district
531 foreign travellers have arrived in the district since November 29, of whom 134 are not in contact with the department
Address and the contact numbers provided by them found to be wrong

In a letter to various states and UTs, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said five districts in Mizoram, two in Kerala and one in Sikkim were reporting over 10 per cent positivity rate. Eight districts in Kerala, five in Mizoram, two in Manipur and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Puducherry and West Bengal were reporting positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent, he said.

“In this context, it is imperative for all states/UTs to maintain a strict watch on the situation with focused district-level measures for containment of clusters of new positive cases. In case of any district reporting a surge in cases or rise in positivity rate, intensive action and local containment measures must be initiated,” he said.

He suggested strategic containment interventions in areas with over 10% positivity rate. The steps included prevention of intermingling of people, prohibition of congregations and curtailment of attendees at marriages and funerals.

“Testing and surveillance interventions must include ramping up testing and active case search, testing of all influenza-like illnesses through rapid antigen tests and retesting by RTPCR, strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour at all places and at all times and adequate advance information to community highlighting the need for stringent containment actions,” the ministry said.