Go for more tests: Centre to surge states

NEW DELHI: Amid rapidly rising Covid-19 cases, the health ministry on Monday asked states witnessing a surge to draw up district-wise prospective plans for the coming months to combat the disease.
Health secretary Preeti Sudan held a meeting with officials from 45 civic bodies across 38 districts in 10 states and asked them to ramp up house-to-house surveys, testing and surveillance measures to contain the infection and reduce mortality.
The 38 districts are from Maharashtra, Telangana, TN, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, J&K, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and MP. Officials said these areas have reported low doubling time of cases, whereas the positivity and the fatality rates are high.
“Main issues discussed included widespread infection in densely populated urban areas, with areas that shared public amenities; importance of house-to-house surveys; prompt testing followed by prompt isolation and clinical management of cases and containment strategy to be implemented,” the ministry said.