’10-20 pilgrims testing +ve daily’: Centre warns of Covid upsurge during Kumbh | India News – Times of India
A high level central team visited Uttarakhand on March 16 and 17 to review the preparedness and measures undertaken by the state for the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.
The organisers have said more than 150 million visitors are expected, as many devotees believe bathing in the river during this period absolves people of sins and bring salvation from the cycle of life and death.
The Centre’s warning came in the wake of a spike in Covid cases in the country with India reporting 43,846 new cases in the last 24 hours, crossing more than 1.5 lakh cases in the last four days.
Observations by the central team
The health ministry said currently more than 12 states in India have shown a surge in Covid-19 cases during past few weeks, and pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela could also be from these states. Centre further noted that there is a potential of an upsurge in cases in the local population after “Shahi Snan” days during the Kumbh Mela.
“As per the report of the central team, 10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals are being reported positive every day. This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Cases in Uttarakhand
The state has been informed that the daily testing numbers reported in Haridwar (50,000 Rapid Antigen tests and 5,000 RT-PCR tests) are not enough to effectively offset the huge number of expected pilgrim footfalls. The Centre has advises the state that the share of RT-PCR tests being conducted at present needs to be significantly increased as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population are appropriately tested.
The cumulative coronavirus case tally reached 98,311 in Uttarakhand after 83 new surfaced in the state on Saturday. However, no coronavirus-related casualty was recorded on the fifth consecutive day.
Centre’s SOPs for Kumbh Mela
Meanwhile, the Centre has issued the following standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed to keep a check on the Covid situation:
- Follow scruplously the SOPs issued by MoHFW. Display signages to disseminate the main points of these SoPs.
- Increase awareness of self-reporting, especially among local population, in case of symptoms suggestive of Covid-19
- Set up system for generating early warning signals in areas with susceptible population by monitoring trend of ARI/ ILI cases through emergency operational centres.
- Target significantly enhanced testing in potential high transmission areas.
- Continue periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious snan days of the Kumbh.
- Ensure operationalization of adequate critical care treatment facilities.
- Effective risk communication, by using all forms of media platforms, for strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour.
- In case of surge in cases/super spreader events, promptly send samples for genome sequenci ng in consultation with NCDC.
Five states account for over 83% of new Covid cases
As India witnessed the highest daily tally of Covid-19 cases this year, the Union health ministry said on Sunday that Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh account for 83.14 per cent of the new infections.
Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 27,126. It is followed by Punjab with 2,578 while Kerala reported 2,078 new cases.
India recorded 43,846 new coronavirus cases in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1,15,99,130.
Besides, 197 deaths were reported in a span 24 hours, the ministry said adding six states account for 86.8 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (92). Punjab follows with 38 daily deaths. Kerala reported15 deaths.