50 central teams deployed to Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh for Covid-19 management

The health ministry has deployed 50 high level multi-disciplinary teams to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab after a recent surge in Covid-19 cases and rising mortality rates.

The teams are being rushed to 30 districts in Maharashtra – the highest number sent to any state since Covid-19 outbreak. Eleven teams are being deployed in Chhattisgarh and nine in Punjab to assist the state governments in Covid-19 surveillance, control and containment measures. The last time Centre had deployed 50 central teams to states was in June 2020. However, the 50 teams were spread across 15 states and not like the current scenario when these are being sent to three states only.

The two-member high level team consists of a clinician or epidemiologist and a public health expert. The teams will visit the states and monitor the overall Covid-19 management, especially in testing, surveillance and containment operations; Covid Appropriate Behaviour and its enforcement; availability of hospital beds, sufficient logistics including ambulances, ventilators, medical oxygen etc., and vaccination. Three senior officers have been appointed as the nodal officers of the three states. The teams will report to these officers on all aspects of Covid management.


As an ongoing effort to strengthen efforts of various state governments for Covid management, the Centre has been deputing teams from time to time.