Centre asks Bengal and Assam to enforce strict COVID-19 measures amid surge in positivity rates, decreasing testing

New Delhi: In view of rising coronavirus cases, weekly positivity rates and decreasing testing figures in Assam and West Bengal, the Centre has asked the state governments to undertake a review of these parameters while stressing on strict enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. In a letter to chief secretaries of Assam and West Bengal on 26 October, Additional Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, Arti Ahuja, highlighted increase in weekly new COVID-19 cases since the past week (20-26 October) and early signs of rise in positivity since the last four weeks till 25 October. On 22 October, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had also written to West Bengal expressing concern over the rise in cases in Kolkata, following Durga Puja celebrations earlier this month. Ahuja, in her letter to Assam, pointed out that there has been 41 percent increase in weekly new cases since the past week (20-26 October) and that there have been early signs of rise in positivity since last four weeks from 1.89 percent in the week of 28 September - 4 October to 2.22 percent in the week of 19-25 October. “The state has also witnessed decline in tests conducted from 1,64,071 in the week of 28 September - 4 October to 1,27,048 in the week of 19-25 October. Because of the rising positivity, the state needs to conduct enhanced testing while maintaining the required RT-PCR share as it will aid in early identification of infection in the state,” he said. Two districts of Assam - Barpeta and Kamrup Metro - the additional secretary said have been identified as districts of concern due to high quantum af COVID-19 cases and weekly positivity. Similarly, in West Bengal, she said two districts - Kolkata and Howrah - have been identified as districts of concern due to high quantum of cases and positivity. Ahuja pointed out that the state has shown approximately 41 percent rise in weekly new cases since the past week, 6,040 cases in the week of 20-26 October compared to 4,277 cases in the week of 13-19 October and that there have been early signs of increase in positivity since the past four weeks from 1.93 percent in the week of 28 September - 4 October to 2.39 percent during 19-25 October. West Bengal has also witnessed decline in the tests conducted from 2,62,319 during 28 September - 4 October to 2,61,515 in the week of 19-25 October. It has been observed that Covid cases surge exponentially where basic public health strategy (testing, tracking, treatment, Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination) is not followed rigorously, she said in the letter. In this context, the officer has stressed on monitoring of cases by proper implementation of containment-zones, increased focus on house-to-house search for active COVID-19 cases within these zones, strict and daily monitoring of cases under home isolation and their referral to hospitals and strengthening contact tracing of COVID-19 positive people and review of containment zones in Assam and West Bengal. Besides, there should be a detailed district-wise and facility-wise analysis of deaths, which include review of number of fatalities that take place within 24 and 72 hours of admission to hospitals to resolve problems related with late hospital admission and the need for monitoring treatment practices. The letter also underlines strengthening the system for early and smooth admission of cases along with a real-time public dashboard highlighting the available hospital or bed infrastructure, strict adherence to National Treatment Protocols, augmenting ICUs, oxygen beds and ventilator capacity in the state and ramping up testing figures, while maintaining the share of RT-PCR tests. Aim for 100 percent first dose coverage of 18-plus population along with increasing the pace of the second dose of vaccination for eligible population, the letter stated. As far as super spreader events and places are concerned, there should be strict surveillance and monitoring as per standard operating protocols (SOPs) of the health ministry and testing as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, besides ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour: Mask-wearing and physical distancing must be strictly enforced. Also, it called for timely updating of the district-level data related to new cases, deaths, hospitalisation status, in hotspots in the Covid India portal and routine submission of RT-PCR positive samples from international travellers as well as from community for genomic analysis at the designated Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network laboratory as per laid down protocols. A rapid response team must be constituted as per the INSACOG guidelines for detailed investigation of mutations reported through the INSACOG.