Latest news with #NipunVinayak
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Amid rising cases, health dept issues Covid-19 advisory
MUMBAI: Amid the rising number of Covid-19 patients in the state, with 59 cases registered on Monday, the state health department on Monday issued an advisory to all administrative heads such as district collectors and municipal commissioners to follow the guidelines for handling Covid-19 and make arrangements for isolation beds, medical oxygen, PPE kits, medicines and facilities for treatment. All senior citizens and people with comorbidities have been urged to avoid going to poorly ventilated or crowded places or use a face mask in such places. Covid-19 cases have been on the rise since last month. There were 873 patients in the state from January to May, 483 of these in Mumbai. Of the latter, 477 cases were detected in May alone. As per the report of the health department, on June 2 a total of 59 cases were registered in the state, with 20 in Mumbai, four in Thane and 17 in Pune city. The total number of active cases in the state was 494 on Monday. Given the spiralling numbers, Nipun Vinayak and Virendra Singh, two secretaries of the health department of Maharashtra, on Monday issued an advisory to all municipal commissioners, district collectors and chief executive officers of all zilla parishads to follow Covid-19 guidelines. The letter states that though most of these cases are, as a precaution, the guidelines issued by the central government regarding Covid-19 need to be followed. The heads have been asked to monitor the situation closely and register the details on related platforms. 'The currently circulating Omicron variants are JN1, XFG and LF 7.9. These variants cause mild illness such as fever, cough and sore throat, which usually resolve on their own. All data related to Covid-19, including specific comorbidities, should be regularly entered on the platforms. IEC (Information, Education and communication) activities should be undertaken to encourage people to follow hygienic behaviour such as hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette (covering mouth or nose while coughing/sneezing), not sneezing in public places etc. The elderly and people with comorbidities especially should avoid going to poorly ventilated or crowded places or use a face mask in such places,' states the letter. Patients with symptoms of acute respiratory problems have been advised to self-monitor their health and report to the nearest health facilities if they experience symptoms such as breathing problems and chest pain. The health department has directed the local administration to review the preparedness of hospitals at the district and sub-district level, municipal/municipal council hospitals and all other facilities as well as medical colleges and other educational institutions. 'Emphasis should be on adequate availability of diagnostics, essential medicines, PPEs, isolation beds, medical oxygen, ICU and ventilator beds. Mock Drills should be conducted to ensure the efficiency of PSA plants (a technology to separate oxygen from air) and overall oxygen preparedness,' says the letter. It also directs the concerned people to submit an Action Taken Report in this regard immediately. As on May 28, 2025, there were a total of 1,621 active cases of Covid-19 in the country. More than 90% of the cases are in six states: Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra govt issues SOP for Covid management
The Maharashtra government on Monday issued revised guidelines for Covid-19 management across the state. All healthcare facilities have been directed to prepare and test 5% of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients. The order has been issued by the health department to all municipal corporations, zilla parishads and district administration. As per officials, till May 28, there were 1,621 active Covid-19 cases in the country. More than 90% of these cases are from six states – Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Maharashtra currently has around 506 active cases. Although most of these cases are mild, as a precaution, the central government has issued guidelines for all states and Union territories, read the letter. 'The currently circulating Omicron variants include JN.1, XFG, and LF 7.9. These variants cause mild symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat, and are self-limiting,' said Dr Nipun Vinayak, health secretary. According to officials, a review of hospital preparedness should be conducted at district, sub-district level, medical colleges, educational, tertiary service institutions, municipal/council hospitals, and all inpatient healthcare facilities. Emphasis should be given on the availability of testing, essential medicines, PPEs, isolation beds, medical oxygen, ICU and ventilator beds. Besides, mock drills should be conducted to ensure the functionality of PSA plants and overall oxygen preparedness. A report on the action taken should be submitted immediately to the state government. As per the directions, district surveillance units should closely monitor the trend of SARI/ILI cases in their areas and track the proportion of SARI among ILI/SARI cases. IEC activities should be conducted to encourage the community to follow hygienic behaviour such as hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, proper cough etiquette (covering mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing), and avoiding spitting in public places. Besides, elderly people, those with comorbidities, and people with weak immunity should avoid crowded or poorly ventilated places, or wear face masks in such places. People with symptoms of acute respiratory illness should self-monitor their health and, if they experience symptoms like difficulty in breathing or chest pain, they should immediately contact nearby health facilities, said the officials.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Covid 19 this year: Over 100 cases in Pune, 500 in Mumbai
Maharashtra has so far reported a total of 873 Covid-19 cases, of which more than 100 are in Pune, while close to 500 are in Mumbai. While a district-wise analysis is underway at the health department, officials said they were following strict guidelines issued by the Union government and not testing everyone for SARS-CoV2 virus. This year, ten deaths have been reported till date. 'We are testing samples of patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and 5 percent of those with Influenza-like Illness (ILI),' Dr Babita Kamalapurkar, joint director of health, Maharashtra told The Indian Express. In Pune, health authorities said that overall, there were 108 cases of Covid-19. A total of 12,011 samples suspected of Covid-19 have been screened, of which 873 have tested positive. Of these, 369 persons have recovered. On Monday, the state health department logged in 59 new cases of which 20 were from Mumbai, four from Thane, one from Pune rural areas, 17 from Pune Municipal Corporation areas, two each from Pimpri Chinchwad, Satara, Kolhapur, one from Sangli and eight from Sambhajinagar. A circular was also issued on Monday by the public health department secretaries Nipun Vinayak and Virendra Singh, instructing district surveillance units to closely monitor the SARI/ILI cases. Samples that have tested positive for Covid-19 will be sent to the regional Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories for whole genome sequencing. A clear message has been relayed in the circular that advises elderly persons and those with co-morbid conditions to avoid large gatherings or alternatively wear a face mask. There has been seasonal upswings and a slow but steady rise in acute respiratory infections across the country, health officials said. More than 90 per cent cases are from Kerala, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Covid cases, according to officials, largely have mild symptoms like fever, cough and sore throat. However, health authorities have now advised medical colleges and hospitals and corporations to ensure preparedness that includes adequate number of hospital ward and ICU beds, PSA plants and also conduct mock drills.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Major Health Boost for Nagpur And Vidarbha: Govt plans facilities, incentives for doctors in remote areas
Nagpur: In a major move aimed at strengthening healthcare services in Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region, Maharashtra health minister Prakash Abitkar announced a series of targeted decisions that promise to transform public health services in the region. These decisions were taken during a high-level meeting held in Mumbai to accelerate reforms in the state's health sector. One of the most significant directives includes the establishment of a medical equipment and supply cell in Nagpur, along with similar units in Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This facility is expected to streamline the distribution and maintenance of essential medical devices, benefiting govt hospitals across Vidarbha. In another key development, the minister called for special incentives for doctors serving in tribal and remote regions, which includes large parts of Vidarbha. The proposed package includes a 25% hike in basic pay, double house rent allowance, and an annual travel concession to their native place. Additionally, doctors who serve in tough terrains for five years will be eligible for transfers to a location of their choice — a move expected to address long-standing staffing issues in rural Vidarbha. The state also plans to include eligible doctors from the region in a special recruitment drive through MPSC, aiming to fill vacant Group A posts in medical services, which will particularly benefit districts with persistent manpower shortages. Furthermore, the state govt is considering setting up cancer day-care centres at 17 locations, with Nagpur expected to be among the key cities selected, in line with the recent Union Budget provisions. These centres will help decentralise cancer treatment and improve access for patients in eastern Maharashtra. The health minister also instructed the department to fast-track proposals related to the rural sanitation and health campaign that could bring significant health awareness and behavioural change to communities across Vidarbha. These focused efforts are being seen as a long-overdue response to the region's demand for equitable healthcare infrastructure and services. Senior officials from the health department, including Dr Nipun Vinayak and Dr Nitin Ambadekar, were present during the meeting.
