New Delhi, As Covid-19 cases surge in Kerala, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting with top officials and chief health secretaries. Emphasizing the need for alertness, the minister stated, “Don’t panic, but there should be no laxity in preparedness.”
Mandaviya assured the affected states of the Union Health Ministry’s support and recommended conducting mock drills in hospitals every three months to ensure readiness. “There is no room for politics when it comes to public health,” he asserted.
Addressing the prevailing cold weather and approaching year-end festivities, the health minister urged states to implement preventive measures. The meeting included key figures such as Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director, ICMR; Dr. VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog; and Dr. Saumya Swaminathan, Ex DG, ICMR.
Kerala, reporting the highest number of cases with a positivity rate of 21%, has increased surveillance, testing, and hospital preparedness. The total nationwide cases reported till 8 am on Wednesday were 341, with Kerala alone accounting for 292.
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