'Be Alert, Health's Not Politics': Centre as JN.1 Covid Strain Gets Tagged as 'Variant of Interest'

Amid a rapid rise in cases of Covid-19 in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday held a high-level review meeting on respiratory illnesses and the coronavirus upsurge. The meeting was held with Mandaviya’s state counterparts and senior officers.

The health minister said that it is time to work together and closely, with a “whole of government” approach. “We need to be alert, but there is no need to panic. Important to be prepared with mock drills of hospital preparedness, increased surveillance and effective communication with people,” he said.

“Let us do mock drill in all hospitals once every three months. I assure all support of the Centre to states,” Mandaviya added, saying that health is not an area of politics.

“Union Health Ministers and Additional Chief/Principal Secretaries (Health) of all States/UTs and relevant Central Ministries/Departments on the preparedness of health facilities and services given the recent upsurge in respiratory illness such as Influenza Like Illness/Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (ILI/SARI) (including by Covid-19),” said the sources.

Centre’s Advisory To States

Meanwhile, given the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, and the detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant of viral infection in Kerala, the Health Ministry has sent an advisory to all the states and Union Territory, highlighting the need for maintaining a constant vigil over the situation.

“Considering the upcoming festive season, states were advised to put in place requisite public health measures and other arrangements to minimize the risk of increase in transmission of the disease by adherence to the maintenance of respiratory hygiene,” the advisory read.

States Asked To Increase Testing

States were also asked to ensure effective compliance with the detailed operational guidelines for the revised surveillance strategy for Covid-19 as has been shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Union Health Ministry has also asked the states to ensure adequate Covid testing in all the districts as per guidelines and maintain the recommended share of RT-PCR and Antigen tests.

(With ANI Inputs)