Step up COVID testing, wear masks in crowded areas: Delhi government amid surge in country-wide cases

The data was shared by the state health department on Thursday in view of the rising Covid cases and the emergence of JN.1, a sub-variant, a descendant of the BA.2.86 variant, commonly referred to as Pirola.

The Delhi government has also decided to implement the operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in the context of Covid-19, and has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to share Covid testing data.

The state health department said it has been ensuring all necessary preparedness in all the Delhi government hospitals. “Mock drills were conducted in all the Delhi Government hospitals between December 13 and December 17, to assess the preparedness on various parameters, including bed capacity, available human resources, referral services, testing capacities, logistics and availability of medical oxygen etc,” said an official from the state health department.

An official said measures will also be taken for raising community awareness for avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, and wearing masks in crowded and close settings along with hospital premises.

According to Dr GC Khilnani, Chairman of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital, testing will be helpful to preempt severe outbreak. “How else will you find out? Singapore and the US are having so many cases and with international travel, there is no reason that it won’t come to India or Delhi. While the current scientific instruction is that it causes mild illness, we need to remain watchful,” he added.

Experts have advised ‘Covid-appropriate behaviour’ with special emphasis on hand hygiene for the susceptible population. “Creating panic, at present may cause confusion, as there is a high incidence of cough, sore throat and other viral-like illnesses in Delhi NCR attributable to air pollution. Having said that, a susceptible population with influenza-like illness (fever, body ache, sore throat, running nose, cough) may be tested for Covid with RT PCR or home testing by a kit,” Dr Khilnani said.

He added that for a susceptible population, it is best to avoid going to places that are too crowded. With high levels of air pollution, it is best to use an N-95 mask, which will protect against both Covid and adverse effects of pollution, he further said.