Active COVID-19 cases cross 5,000; Centre steps up preparedness measures
In view of the uptick in cases, the Centre has initiated mock drills to assess facility-level preparedness across the country. All States have been directed to ensure the availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines in anticipation of any further rise in cases.
The country currently has 5,364 active COVID-19 cases. Four new deaths linked to the infection were reported in the last 24 hours.
Official sources have maintained that 'most cases are mild and managed under home care.'
Also read: Misinformation a bigger threat than COVID-19 uptick
Since January this year, a total of 55 deaths have been reported nationwide. The number of active cases stood at 257 as of May 22.
A series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and 3 under the chairpersonship of Dr. Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services (DGHS). The meetings were attended by representatives of the Disaster Management Cell, Emergency Management Response (EMR) Cell, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Central Government Hospitals in Delhi, and officials from States and Union Territories, to assess the current COVID-19 situation and preparedness strategies.
On June 4, official sources stated that State and District surveillance units under IDSP are closely monitoring trends in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).
'Testing is recommended for all admitted SARI cases and 5 per cent of ILI cases as per guidelines, and positive SARI samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing through the ICMR VRDL network,' an official source said.
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