Though the cases of positive cases of COVID-19 are declining in the state, the state government, anticipating a second wave of the infection, has asked authorities not to drop guard and take all necessary steps to deal with any situation.A circular-cum-advisory issued by the state Directorate of Health Services last week said the second wave of the pandemic is likely in January-February, and asked officials concerned to ramp up COVID-19 testing in the state.
It also asked authorities to identify potential ‘super-spreaders’, like grocery shop owners, people providing door-to-door services, those working in the transport field, labourers, security guards deployed in housing societies, police and home guards.It has asked district administrations, municipal corporations and medical officers to ensure there is no laxity in laboratory testings, and asked them to do all testings as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.
As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), there should a ratio of 140 tests per million population.The circular also asked authorities to continue the survey of people having an influenza-like illness, with the help of flu centres in urban and rural areas of the state.
The house-to-house survey and contact-tracing should be done on war-footing, the circular said, and also asked to take proper care and screening of co-morbid population.Also directed to ensure the better bed management of COVID-19, and non-COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and uninterrupted supply of oxygen and proper management of ambulances in hospitals.
