Thiruvananthapuram: The
Covid-19 core committee meeting decided to intensify the testing and increase the number of
vaccinations to face the
post-election surge. The meeting observed that there would be a surge in the number of cases in the state. There will be strict monitoring in the state to ensure that
Covid protocols are being maintained.
Even though the meeting did not decide on imposing any kind of restrictions in the state, health minister K K Shailaja said that the government would be forced to impose restrictions at the local level to check the spreading.
The state government has also decided to have an interaction with the Centre and based only on their directive a decision on bringing in any kind of restrictions in the state will be taken. Several states have already started imposing restrictions like night curfew, ban on cinema halls and restaurants, etc, to prevent the second wave of the pandemic.
“The people will have to impose their own control and stay away from social gatherings. There is every chance for an increase in the number of cases in the state due to the election campaigning. Even after the local body polls the cases had increased. But we could control it,” said the health minister.
She said there was every chance for a spread and the chief minister has given necessary directions to all the departments to intensify the monitoring at the grassroot level.
“The health department has decided to increase the testing and also the vaccination in the coming days. At present, over 40 lakh vaccination has been given in the state,” said Rajan N Khobragade, principal secretary (health).
The government has also decided to bring back the cluster containment strategies if any spreading is reported from an area. In fact, the state has been the role model for cluster containment strategies and hence we can curb the spreading, if any, through these measures, he added.
All district collectors have been instructed to have extra vigil and report immediately whether there is any spread in cases in a particular area. The collectors have also been asked to impose local-level restrictions if the situation is bad.