UP: CM Yogi Adityanath meets Team 9 amid COVID-19 resurgence
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath chaired a review meeting with the state's Team 9 to take stock of the preparedness of healthcare facilities amid rising COVID-19 cases. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and other top officials also attended the meeting, where Adityanath ordered the setting up of dedicated hospitals in each district and increased testing to contain the spread of COVID-19 and H3N2 influenza.
Why does this story matter?
India is witnessing a resurgence of coronavirus cases as the country recorded 1,800 new cases within 24 hours for the second consecutive day on Monday. Six deaths were reported across the country, while 40 schoolgirls tested positive for the virus at a government residential school in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri. Simultaneously, the spread of the H3N2 influenza virus has kept health officials on their toes.
Ensure all oxygen plants are operational: CM
At the meeting, Adityanath asked officials to ensure all health facilities and other resources are available to patients and that all oxygen plants in the state are operational. Ventilators at all hospitals and medical colleges must be functional, and anesthetics must be deployed wherever there is a ventilator, he ordered. Meanwhile, the elderly have been advised to stay home in view of upcoming festivals.
Nationwide mock drill on April 10, 11
On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also issued a joint statement, urging all public and private health facilities to participate in a nationwide mock drill on April 10 and 11 to assess equipment readiness and availability.
Most cases from Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar
In the last seven days, around 2.2 lakh COVID-19 tests were conducted in UP, of which most positive cases were reported in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. Currently, there are 10,300 active cases in the state. As per the current rate of spread, there is one positive patient per 10 lakh people in the state.
35-40% of total COVID-19 tests conducted in UP
Currently, out of the total COVID-19 tests being conducted in the country, 35-40% of them are being done in UP. Its Team 9—previously known as Team 11—consists of nine members, including ministers and top-level officials who coordinate COVID-19 management with the Centre and other states. Meanwhile, the country's daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.56%, while the weekly positivity rate stood at 1.29%.
