By Imna Longchar
Dimapur(Nagaland), Nov 24 : Meghalaya and Nagaland are amongst the eleven states and two Union Territories directed by the Centre on Wednesday to “ramp-up” Covid testing in order to keep the pandemic in control.
Union health secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, wrote to Nagaland, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Ladakh governments over decline in the weekly Covid-19 testing numbers.
In a letter written to the eleven states and the two union territories governments, Bhushan stated that it was important that they maintain “high testing” given the recent increase in travelling due to various events including marriages and festive celebrations.
The union health secretary cautioned that the decrease in testing would undermine the actual infection spread within the community and added that with the onset of winter, increase in pollution in some states, prevalence of influenza like illness and respiratory symptoms should be closely monitored.
Bhushan further asked the states that tests should be conducted regularly for timely monitoring and clustering of cases for early hotspot identification.
