Covid test for grocers and vegetable vendors
EARLY DETECTION OF CASES CAN REDUCE MORTALITY RATE
Expressing concern that grocery shops, vegetable and other vendors can be potential spreaders of coronavirus infection to a large number of people, the Union Health Ministry has advised states and UTs to take up testing of such people to ensure early detection of cases which can lead to reduction in mortality rate.
In a letter to states and UTs, Secretary in the Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan, also stressed on the need for operationalising ambulance transport system with oxygen facility and quick response mechanism.
He underlined that the refusal rate of ambulances must be monitored at a daily basis and brought down to zero.
With the Covid-19 pandemic now spreading to newer areas in the country, Bhushan said there are likely to be scattered cases, cluster of cases or large outbreaks in districts and that the primary aim is to control outbreaks, especially in new locations. “The focus at the same time should be to save lives at all cost,” he said.
Aggressive testing
“While we have so far done better than many other countries in this respect, our aim should be to further reduce mortality and ensure that it does not cross the 1 per cent mark,” Bhushan said in the letter, addressed to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries (health).
He pointed out that early detection of cases through aggressive testing, prompt isolation or admission in a health care facility and ensuring proper clinical management are major components of mortality reduction.
“Early detection of cases is the most crucial element to ensure that the case fatality is reduced. It helps in terms of not only identifying the case before it may become critical but also supports in terms of checking the spread of infection,” he said in the letter.
Bhushan also said that a regular house-to-house search must be done periodically to identify those who are at high-risk.