CHANDIGARH: Focus on ‘five tools’ of vaccination,
enhanced testing, strict containment, prompt contact tracing and enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour to contain the spread of the deadly virus, the Central government has ordered the
UT administration.
The directions were issued after the government reviewed the Covid-19 situation, with a special emphasis on 11 states and UTs, including Chandigarh, reporting a “very high rise” in daily cases.
A senior UT official said states and UTs were also asked to ensure people follow protocols, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in public gatherings for which deputy commissioner and sub divisional magistrates (SDMs) are issuing permission. The administration is issuing permission after an undertaking from the host of following all Covid protocols, the official added.
The states and UTs were also asked to increase number of beds in the hospitals for patients and strengthen ambulance services to ensure people reach hospitals on time, besides plan for a suitable number of necessary medical equipment like ventilators and oxygen cylinders. The city has sufficient number of beds and other medical facilities and if needed, the administration will further strengthen it, the official assured.
The city’s total weekly Covid positivity rate of 13.8% is the third-highest in the country after Maharashtra (23.2%) and Nagaland (15.1%). The national average is 6.3%.
On March 30, the seven-day average total positivity rate in the city was 13.5% and was second after Maharashtra with 23%. At that time, the seven-day average daily growth percentage was 1.03%.
Following the nudge from the ministry of health and family welfare, RTPCR testing has increased to 80% recently. It was earlier flailing at 40% for a while. Tests per million per day remain consistent, with the UT occupying the third place since the last 15 days after Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.