HomeHealthcare NewsOmicron scare: Central teams deployed in 10 states with high cases, slow vaccination

Omicron scare: Central teams deployed in 10 states with high cases, slow vaccination

The teams will be stationed in these states for three to five days, and will will specifically look into contact-tracing, including surveillance and containment operations, and COVID-19 testing, including sending of adequate samples for genome sequencing, a Union Health Ministry memorandum stated.

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By PTI December 25, 2021, 2:36:31 PM IST (Updated)

Omicron scare: Central teams deployed in 10 states with high cases, slow vaccination
The central government has deployed multi-disciplinary teamsin 10 states which are reporting either an increasing number of Omicron and COVID-19 cases or a slow vaccination pace, a Union Health Ministry office memorandum stated. As per the document, teams have been sent to Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Punjab.


"In view of a rapid surge in cases and deaths because of COVID-19, as reported by various news channels, the state governments, and noted in internal reviews, it has been seen that the number of Omicron cases has emerged in some states," the memorandum stated.

"It has also been observed that the pace of COVID-19 vaccination in these states is less than the national average. In wake of this situation, a decision has been taken to deploy multi-disciplinary central teams to 10 identified states to aid the efforts of the state and district administration for management of COVID-19," it added.












These teams will be stationed in the states for three to five days, and will work along with the state health authorities, it said. The teams will specifically look into areas of contact-tracing, including surveillance and containment operations, and COVID-19 testing, including sending of adequate samples from clusters to the INSACOG network for genome sequencing, the memo stated.

They will also look into enforcement of COVID-appropriate behaviour, availability of hospital beds, sufficient logistics, including ambulances, ventilators, and medical oxygen, and vaccination progress. The state-level central teams will assess the situation, suggest remedial actions and submit a report every evening by 7 pm on public health activities being undertaken, besides submitting the same to the state governments, the memo stated.

Also read: Omicron scare: Maha imposes Section 144 at night, curbs on large gatherings and more
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