PATNA: Amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday instructed officials to activate block-level quarantine centres and test all healthcare and frontline workers as well as their family members to prevent the spread of the infection.
The CM was chairing a state-level virtual meeting with district magistrates, superintendents of police and other senior officials of departments concerned at his 1 Anney Marg residence in Patna.
Nitish warned officials that Covid cases are rising steeply in many states and people (mostly migrant workers) are expected to return to Bihar soon.
“Quarantine centres should be ready at the block level. Places with positive cases should be declared containment zones, and steps should be taken accordingly,” the CM said.
Migrant workers from Bihar have started returning from states such as Maharashtra and Punjab following partial lockdowns and other prohibitory orders.
At the meeting, principal secretary (health) Pratyaya Amrit said the districts with the highest active cases of Covid-19 include Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Siwan and Saran.
Incidentally, the Central Railways headquartered in Mumbai on Tuesday announced special trains from Mumbai to Patna, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur and from Pune to Danapur to facilitate people who want to return to their states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The CM also asked officials to identify reasons for the rise in cases in their respective areas.
"Keep complete information of where all Covid cases are rising and who all have come from outside the state. Keep a strict watch on people coming from outside and those coming in their contact," Nitish said.
The CM asked officials to form a strategy to tackle the latest surge based on the assessment of fresh cases as well as the experience of handling the pandemic last year. He issued instructions for increasing Covid-19 testing, especially healthcare and frontline workers and their family members.
"The higher the testing, the more we will know about the spread of the infection. All people need to be alert for Covid, which will ensure the minimal adverse impact of the pandemic," Nitish said.
On crowd-control, Nitish said, "A limited number of people should be allowed to attend public events under strict Covid-safety norms. People should remain more alert at religious and other crowded places."
Issuing instructions for vaccination, Nitish said, "People should be alerted for the second stage of vaccination. Higher rate of vaccination will ensure the lesser effect of the infection."
The CM asked the disaster management department officials to remain alert considering the high population of the state.
The CM also appealed to people to remain alert for Covid and strictly follow the guidelines. He urged people to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing and wash hands regularly.