Omicron thrice more transmissible than Delta; enforce containment measures, Centre tells states

NEW DELHI, 21 Dec: Asserting that the Omicron variant is at least thrice more transmissible than Delta, the Centre on Tuesday asked states and union territories to ‘activate’ war rooms, keep analyzing even small trends and surges and keep taking strict and prompt containment action at district and local levels.

In a letter to the states and union territories, union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised implementing strategic interventions for containment, like imposition of night curfew, strict regulation of large gatherings, curtailing numbers in marriages and funerals, besides increasing testing and surveillance.

The letter highlights measures that need to be taken in view of initial signs of surge in cases of Covid-19 as well as increased detection of the ‘variant of concern’, Omicron, in different parts of the country.

“At the district level there should be constant review of emerging data regarding the population affected by Covid-19, geographical spread, hospital infrastructure and its utilization, manpower, notifying containment zones, enforcement of perimeter of containment zones, etc. This evidence should be the basis for effective decision making at the district level itself. Such a strategy ensures that infection is contained at the local level itself before it spreads to other parts of the state,” Bhushan said in the letter.

“Kindly activate the war rooms/emergency operation centres and keep analyzing all trends and surges, no matter how small and keep taking proactive action at the district/local level. Regular reviews with field officers and proactive action in this regard will definitely control the spread of infection and flatten the curve,” he said.

In case of all new clusters of Covid positive cases, prompt notification of containment zones and buffer zones should be done and strict perimeter control of containment zone according to extant guidelines must be ensured.

All cluster samples must be sent to INSACOG Labs for genome sequencing without delay, Bhushan underlined.

The letter highlighted that test positivity of 10 percent or more in the last one week or bed occupancy of 40 percent or more on oxygen supported or ICU beds should be main elements of the framework to be used by states and union territories to facilitate decision-making at the district level.

“Based on current scientific evidence, the variant of concern, Omicron is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta. Besides, the Delta is still present in different parts of the country.

“Hence, even greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making and strict and prompt containment action is required at the local and district level. The decision-making at the state and UT and district level must be very prompt and focussed,” he said.

Listing some of the strategic areas of intervention focusing on containment, test, track, surveillance, clinical management to be taken, Bhushan asked states and union territories to ensure door-to-door case search, testing of all SARI/ILI and vulnerable/co-morbid people and right proportion of RT-PCR tests in total tests being conducted daily.

Contact tracing of all Covid positive persons and utilizing the access to the AIR Suvidha portal by state surveillance officers and district surveillance officers to monitor the international passengers who have arrived in their states and districts was also stressed.

States and union territories have been asked to increase bed capacity, other logistics like ambulances, mechanism for seamless shifting of patients, availability and operational readiness of oxygen equipment, buffer stock of drugs to be ensured by prompt utilization of Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP-II) funds released by central government and other available resources.

The existing national clinical management protocol remains unchanged for Omicron, the letter stated.

The states and union territories have been asked to ensure 100 percent coverage of left-out first and second dose eligible beneficiaries in an accelerated manner.

“Special focus to be given to those districts where the first second dose coverage is less than the national average,” the letter stated, adding that door-to-door vaccination campaigns need to be strengthened.

They have also been asked to ensure advance engagement and information, so that there is no misinformation or panic, transparent communication on hospital and testing infrastructure availability, regular press briefings, etc.

“Participation of community, backed by strict enforcement is necessary for ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour,” the letter said. (PTI)