Wearing of face masks is mandatory in all indoor and closed places including metro, restaurants, theatres, buses and trains. , photo credit: file photo
The state government on Thursday reimposed the mandatory face masking rule in closed spaces, and advised social distancing for outdoor Christmas and New Year celebrations. Hospitals have been directed to mandatorily conduct COVID-19 testing of all persons admitted with ILI and SARI.
Following the recommendations of the state’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and guidelines by the Center in light of the surge of COVID-19 in other countries, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with officials, TAC members and health and medical education. In Belagavi on Thursday, Minister K. Sudhakar.
Following the guidelines, the Center directed event organizers to ensure mandatory face masking in all indoor and closed places, such as pubs, bars and restaurants, cinemas, metros in buses and trains, shopping malls, offices, etc. This should be followed strictly, especially by the elderly and those with co-morbidities. People have been advised to celebrate Christmas and New Year outside.
vaccine availability
The state has also directed district officials and BBMP officials to ramp up testing and ensure vaccine availability and review clinical facilities in government hospitals in terms of beds, medicines, manpower. The officers have been directed to provide adequate investigation teams. All symptomatic persons, especially contacts of positive cases, should be compulsorily tested. As per the guidelines, all symptomatic persons, who test positive, should be encouraged to follow isolation and treatment as per established protocols.
While district hospitals and government medical college hospitals have been directed to reserve at least isolation beds for COVID-19, all health facilities, including private hospitals, have been asked to be prepared to manage any surge in COVID-19 cases. is directed.
testing at airports
“Following the Centre’s guidelines, all positive samples (with a cycle threshold (CT) value <25) should be sent for whole genome sequencing (WGS). The exercise of random testing of 2% of international arrivals at Mangaluru and Bengaluru international airports will continue and guidelines issued by the Center in this regard will be followed,” the guidelines said.
The officials have also been directed to expedite booster dose vaccination in line with the supply – so as to increase the current coverage of 22% to 50% during December-January next year.
Besides this, all district and taluk hospitals have been instructed to regularly do a dry run of their oxygen infrastructure once in 15 days.