States to start mock drills to test Covid preparedness

Stepping up vigil, states in India will undertake mock drills across health units next week to ensure the operational readiness of dedicated facilities to brave any potential surge of Covid-19 that is now rampant in neighbouring China.

- SOHINI DAS

Specifically, the focus would be on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources. The idea is to check whether the equipment is in running condition or needs refurbishment.

Sanjay Khandare, health secretary, Maharashtra, said the mock drill will only be conducted in government units.

India is reporting 153 daily fresh cases on average, and there is no concern yet about the pressure on healthcare infrastructure, even as researchers predict that China's death figures could touch millions.

The health ministry has advised states to review their readiness through such mock drills, and enhance surveillance. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting on Friday with his state counterparts.

The government has worked out a well-defined surveillance strategy consisting of health facility-based sentinel surveillance; pan-respiratory virus surveillance; community-based surveillance and sewage or waste-water surveillance.

These initiatives have been in motion for a while now. A health ministry official noted that BF.7, an Omicron sub-lineage that is said to be behind the recent spike in cases across the world, was detected in India around July.

"Surveillance showed there was no abnormal spike in cases around the area where the variant was detected," the official said.