BHOPAL: In a clear guideline, the Union government has advised the state governments about the situation when to impose Covid-19 induced lockdowns and curbs.
A recent Union government letter to all state governments calls for clamping containment and restrictive measures at the district level once – ‘test positivity of 10% or more persists in the last one week or bed occupancy of 40% or more on oxygen supported or ICU beds.’
Currently, Ujjain has the highest positivity rate in Madhya Pradesh at 3.3%.
However, health ministry advisory quoted by recent Union home ministry directive suggests ‘a normative framework’.
With distinct presence of the Delta variant and detection of Omicron cases in many states, there is need for greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making, and strict and prompt containment actions at the local and district levels, based on the assessment of the situation.
Based on current scientific evidence, the VOC Omicron is at least 3 times more transmissible than the Delta VOC.
Besides, the Delta VOC is still present in different parts of the country, according to MoHFW. Keeping in mind the higher transmissibility of Omicron, states/Union Territories can take containment measures and restrictions even before these thresholds are reached.
