Omicron BF7 Highlights: Health ministers tells states to be ready with COVID management plans, free RT-PCR testing at Mumbai airport

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Punjab CM holds Covid review meeting, urges people to wear masks in public

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a COVID-19 review meeting on Friday and has urged people to wear masks in public places, in view of the rising cases in some countries. He said the state government was fully prepared to tackle any unforeseen challenges. Deputy commissioners have been directed to constantly review the arrangements in their respective districts, while the government will set up a state-level Covid control room, Mann added.

Nearly 83% people in Indore not inoculated with precautionary dose

Nearly 83 per cent of eligible population in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district has not taken the precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, an official said on Friday. The stock of Covidshield vaccine has also gotten over in Indore, which was one of the worst affected districts in the state amid the pandemic, the official added. 

Mumbai sees seven COVID-19 cases, no death; active tally now 37

Mumbai on Friday reported seven COVID-19 cases, which took the tally to 11,55,074, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,746, a civic official said. This was a rise from the three cases reported on Thursday, which had also witnessed a death, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

No COVID-related curbs in Goa till Jan 2: CM

The Goa government will not impose any COVID-19-related restrictions till January 2 but will review the situation on January 3, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday after chairing a high-level meeting. 

Himachal CM Sukhu urges tourists to wear masks, follow Covid protocol

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday urged tourists visiting the hill state to follow COVID-19 protocol, including wearing a face mask, as a precautionary measure amid the spurt in infection in some countries.

COVID-19 RT-PCR testing facility available for free for international passengers: Mumbai international airport

The testing facility would be free for the international flyers who would be randomly selected by the airlines, said the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai

Special attention would be given as highest number of tourists would be in Goa due to upcoming festivities: Goa health minister

Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane said the health secretary would have to take a regular review of the situation and the health ministry would be speaking to the media to communicate the status with the people. 

A mock drill would be conducted on December 27 to check the preparedness for COVID-19 management: Goa health minister

Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane also said that the state has asked for additional booster doses. Another meeting would be held next week. Rane said a meeting was being held with the Goa chief minister as well. 

Airlines will be inspecting 2% of the international passengers: Goa health minister

As Christmas festivities begin, Goa govt advises COVID appropriate behaviour, says no need to panic

As Goa gears up to ring in the Christmas and New Year festivities amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in some countries, the state government on Friday appealed to the people not to panic, but to take necessary precautions.

We have assured the Union health minsiter to help the Centre in dealing with the pandemic: Jharkhand health minister

Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour continue to remain the tested strategy for Covid management. States advised to strengthen surveillance system; ramp up testing and ensure readiness of hospital infrastructure,news agency ANI reported Union health minister as saying, 

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has told states to be on alert 

The Centre and states have to work in a collaborative spirit as we did during the previous surges, he said. 

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Union minister tells state health ministers to increase surveillance

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya directed us to increase COVID-19 surveillance and testing and ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour. A mock drill for emergency respsonse to deal with COVID-19 would be conducted in hospitals, says Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar, news agency ANI reports.