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Mandaviya directs officials to focus on covid vaccination, genome sequencing
NEW DELHI : In the wake of rising covid cases across the country, the union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday directed the states/UTs to focus on surveillance, genome sequencing to scan for any possible mutation and monitor hospitalization of covid cases. Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting to review covid status across the country ordered the officials to ramp up covid testing and accelerate covid-19 vaccination for all eligible population. Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, made a detailed presentation on the global scenario of surge in COVID cases and status of COVID in the country. This included presentation and analysis of trend of covid-19 cases, daily & active cases, positivity and deaths; testing status along with state-wise weekly tests per million, RT-PCR share in weekly tests; genome sequencing; and vaccination status. The union health minister stressed on the need to focus on districts reporting high case positivity, undertake adequate testing (with higher proportion of RT-PCR) and effective covid-19 surveillance to assess and control the spread of infection in a timely manner, stated the government release. He exhorted to increase pace of vaccination including booster doses in districts reporting high cases.