Enhance Covid Testing In View Of Kumbh: Centre to Uttarakhand

In view of the rising number of Coronavirus infections in the country, the Centre on Sunday directed Uttarakhand to follow stringent measures to control the spread of COVID-19 during Kumbh Mela, during which pilgrims from across the country are expected to visit the state. The note was sent after a high-level team sent to the state raised concerns after reviewing medical care and public health arrangements for the Kumbh Mela. Based on the findings of the team, the central government has directed the state to increase the number of Covid testing as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population is appropriately tested. Periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious snan, effective risk communication, enhanced testing in potential high transmission areas are among other measures directed by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in his letter to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary. The Union Health Secretary has also observed that currently more than 12 states in India have shown a surge in COVID19 cases during past few weeks, and pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela could also be from these States. "It has been noted that there is a potential of an upsurge in cases in the local population after the auspicious Shahi Snan days during the Kumbh Mela," it said. "The state has been informed that the daily testing numbers reported in Haridwar (i.e.50,000 Rapid Antigen Tests and 5,000 RTPCR tests) are not enough to effectively offset huge number of expected pilgrim footfall. It has been advised that the share of RTPCR tests being conducted at present needs to be significantly increased as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population is appropriately tested," the note said.