Covid-19: Centre calls for district action plans

The Centre sounded the alarm over the spike in Covid-19 cases, telling states that the current surge has the potential of “overwhelming healthcare systems” and warning against complacency. The health ministry has asked states to vaccinate all those 45 and above within two weeks in districts where infections are climbing rapidly."After having successfully brought down the number of new Covid-19 cases from mid-September 2020 to February 2021, India is now witnessing a rapid rise in cases," health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a note to state chief secretaries. “The current rise in cases is of concern and has the potential of overwhelming healthcare systems, unless checked right now.”The Centre has directed all states to frame district-specific action plans, which should include the establishment of an emergency operations centre to monitor the spread 24x7, formation of containment zones and tracking the positivity rate.‘Situation Turning from Bad to Worse’“All districts with high case load and fast growth of cases must ensure 100% saturation vaccination of the priority age group of 45 years and above, in the coming two weeks,” Bhushan told the states. "Any complacency at this stage…will have heavy costs."This was echoed by VK Paul, NITI Aayog member, health.“The Covid-19 situation is turning from bad to worse,” he said. “In the last few weeks, especially in some states, it is a huge cause for worry. No state, no part of the country should be complacent.”The health secretary ruled out door-to-door vaccinations. “For decades, India has conducted universal immunisation programmes but has never offered an injectable vaccine going door-to-door. Only polio drops have been given through door-to-door strategy,” he said. "The Covid-19 immunisation programme is an adult vaccination programme where there is a possibility of AEFIs (adverse events following immunisation). This is why these need to be monitored in healthcare settings.” Officials also said that taking vaccinations door-to-door could mean increasing the chance of contamination.

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