NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAR 23
Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country, the Centre Tuesday asked all states and union territories to increase RT-PCR tests, strictly enforce test-track-treat protocol and speed up the pace of vaccination to cover all priority groups.
Based on the advice of task force on #COVID, the Union Cabinet took the decision that henceforth the second dose of #Covishield will be administered between 4-8 weeks now for greater effectiveness.#CabinetDecisions
टीका है सुरक्षा कवच pic.twitter.com/CMVmENK0qB
— Prakash Javadekar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@PrakashJavdekar) March 23, 2021
Issuing fresh guidelines for April, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said keeping in view the fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, the new positive cases, detected as a result of intensive testing, need to be isolated or quarantined at the earliest and provided timely treatment.
The state governments and union territory administrations should strictly enforce the test-track-treat protocol in all parts of the country, ensure observance of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour by everyone and, scale up the vaccination drive to cover all the target groups, the guidelines said.
All contacts have to be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated and quarantined, it said.
India on Tuesday recorded 40,715 new coronavirus cases taking the nationwide infection tally to 1.16 crore and the virus so far claimed 1,60,166 lives.
The home ministry said based on the positive cases and tracking of their contacts, containment zones shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities at the micro level taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the Union Health Ministry.
The states and union territories where the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less should rapidly increase it to reach the prescribed level of 70 per cent or more of total tests.
The authorities, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions at district or sub-district and city or ward level, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, the guidelines said.
The ministry said the government of India has launched the world”s largest vaccination drive against COVID-19.
While the vaccination drive is proceeding smoothly, the pace is uneven across different states and union territories and, the slow pace of vaccination in some states and union territories is a “matter of concern”, it said.
The guidelines said that the vaccination against COVID-19, in the present scenario, is critical to break the chain of transmission and hence all state and union territory governments should rapidly step up the pace of vaccination to cover all priority groups in an expeditious manner.
The home ministry said the main focus of the guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains achieved in containing the spread of COVID-19, which was visible in the sustained decline in the number of active cases, continuously for about 5 months.
It is also emphasised that in order to ensure that the resumption of activities is successful and to fully overcome the pandemic, there is need to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy, and strictly observe the guidelines and SOPs issued by the home and health ministries.
The home ministry said the local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed and state and union territory governments shall ensure the accountability of the officers concerned in this regard.
No restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries has been imposed.
All activities have been permitted outside containment zones and SOPs have been prescribed for various activities. These include movement by passenger trains, air travel, metro trains, schools, higher educational institutions, hotels and restaurants, shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks, yoga centres and gymnasiums, exhibitions, assemblies and congregations, the guidelines said.
Vaccine for all above 45 years from April 1: Govt
The government on Tuesday announced that from April 1, all people above 45 years of age will be eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines and requested them to get registered for the inoculation.
Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Cabinet after its meeting, Union minster Prakash Javadekar said now even people without comorbidities who are more that 45 years of age can get vaccinated.
He requested people entitled to get themselves registered to take the jabs.
He said the Cabinet also decided that the second dose of the vaccine can be taken between four and eight weeks, on the advice of doctors. It was allowed to be taken between four to six weeks earlier, but scientists have now said that taking the second dose between four and eight weeks gives improved results.
The union cabinet discussed about the vaccination drive which has already achieved speedy and good progress, Javadekar said.
“Today after discussion and on the advice of the task force and scientists, it was decided that from April 1 the vaccine will open for everybody above 45 years of age.
“We request that all eligible people should immediately register from April 1 and get vaccinated, as it is the shield against the disease,” Javadekar told reporters.
He said till this day, 4.85 crore vaccines have been administered for COVID-19 and more than 32 lakh people administered the vaccine in last 24 hours.
Another decision taken, on the advice given by scientists and world scientist bodies, was that the second dose of vaccine can be administered between fourth and eighth week, particularly for Covishield, he said.
“Our appeal is that all above 45 years should take vaccine as early as possible, that will provide them the shield against coronavirus and they should register for getting vaccinated,” the minister said.
Vaccines are available in enough number and there is no scarcity and the supply chains and supply line is intact, he said, adding that “I am sure everyone will welcome this decision and come forward to get vaccinated.”
The minister said he was confident that vaccination will increase at a fast pace.
To a question on cases of COVID-19 rising in some states, he said, the central government is in touch with them and there will be effective management.
“We hope that virus would not be allowed to spread,” he asserted.
On 80 percent cases in Punjab found to have UK variant of the virus, Javadekar said, the virus is coming out in new variants and forms.
That is why getting vaccinated is important as that is the only shield, he said.
“One has to continue using masks and maintaining social distancing and washing hands is also important, but vaccination is the only shield,” he noted.
The minister said the vaccine is available in adequate quantities and India takes pride that both its vaccines are successful. The prime minister himself took the Covaxin shot, he added, noting that one can take any of the two vaccines and take the second dose according to doctor’s advice.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers started from February 2.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
