Centre asks MP to adopt 5-fold strategy as state sees 79% rise in Covid-19 cases

NEW DELHI: As Madhya Pradesh has seen almost 79 per cent increase in weekly new Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks, the Centre on Thursday directed the state to implement a five-fold strategy of “test, track, treat, follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and vaccinate” to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The Centre has also asked the state to put restrictions on social gatherings and movement of large groups of people that are not essential. Also, the state has been advised to strengthen and enhance oxygen and ICU beds effectively.

The directions in this regard were issued after a high-level meeting, which was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, to review the Covid-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh and steps taken to contain the spread of the deadly virus. At the meeting, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan was also present.

During the meeting, it was pointed out that Madhya Pradesh has reported nearly 13.4 per cent week-on-week increase in new COVID cases. In last two weeks, the state has seen almost 79 per cent increase in weekly new cases.

“In Madhya Pradesh, in contrast to the week April 7-13 in the week of March 17-23 2021, RT-PCR tests have increased to 73 per cent (from 67 per cent) while the Antigen tests has decreased to 25 per cent (from 31 per cent),” the ministry said.

Issues related to adequate availability of N95 masks, PPE Kits, HCQ tablets availability, ventilator allocation, delivery and installation along with Oxygen requirement and status of allocation of concentrator plants were discussed in detail in the meeting.