Avoid poorly ventilated places, wear mask in public: ICMR

The ministry of health and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday issued a joint advisory to the states emphasising to follow public health measures like avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, using handkerchief/tissue while sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask in crowded and closed settings, maintaining hand hygiene, avoiding spitting in public places.

Citing that the current testing levels are insufficient with some states heavily relying on the “less sensitive” rapid antigen test, it has asked the states to maintain optimum testing to identify emerging hot spots.

“It is critical to maintain optimum testing for Covid-19, equitably distributed (with suitable modifications to address emergence of new cluster of Covid cases) across the States. This is especially important to identify any emerging hotspots and take pre-emptive steps to curb virus transmission”.



It has asked the states to adhere to respiratory and hand hygiene, amid increasing number of Covid-19 and influenza cases.

To limit transmission the states have been asked to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene particularly with regard to avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings by co-morbid persons and the elderly.

It has also asked the states to ask doctors to wear masks, paramedics and other healthcare works as well as patients and their attendants within health the care facilities.

“Wearing of masks in crowded and closed settings. Using handkerchief/tissue to cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, maintaining hand hygiene and frequent washing of hands,” it said in the letter.

It has also asked the states to spitting in public places should be avoided.

It is also important that states should promote testing and early reporting of symptoms. According to the letter, it has asked for limiting personal contact if suffering from respiratory diseases, it said.

A gradual but sustained increase in trajectory of Covid-19 cases in the country is being seen since mid-February 2023.

According to the ministry, as on date, most of the active Covid-19 cases in the country are largely being reported by states like Kerala (26.4%), Maharashtra (21.7%, Gujarat (13.9%), Karnataka (8.6%) and Tamil Nadu (6.3%).

While the rates of hospitalization and death due to the disease remains low, the health ministry said that the gradual rise in cases needs “reinvigorated public health actions to contain the surge”.

The states have been asked to keep a close watch on the evolving etiologies (causes of diseases) of !nfluenza Like lllness (lLl) and Severe Acute Respiratory lllness (SARI) cases.

lndia usually sees a seasonal rise in lnfluenza cases from January to March and again from August to October.

“Presently, the most prominent subtypes of tnfluenza in circulation in the Country seem to be lnfluenza A (H1Nl ) and lnfluenza A (H3N2),” it said

The states have been told to closely follow the trend of ILI/SARI, monitor the proportion of SARI cases among all lLl& SARI cases, and refer sufficient number of samples for testing for lnfluenza and SARS CoV,” it said.

The ministry has asked the states to take a stock of hospital preparedness including drugs, beds including lCU beds, medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resource on existing guidelines as well as vaccination coverage.

“A nation- wide mock drill is also being planned on 1Oth and 11th April, 2023, wherein health facilities (both public and private) from all districts are expected to participate.,” it said