Comply with Covid-19 protocols, till it's zero cases: Karnataka health official

February 20 has been set as the deadline for vaccinating healthcare workers in the state

A reduction in Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and increasing movement from endemic zones has led to alarming cluster outbreaks in the past one week, said newly appointed Health commissioner Dr Trilok Chandra, who took charge on Wednesday.

“Everyone should follow the rules issued during the first wave and assume that anyone they’re interacting with can be a potential carrier. They themselves can be carriers. Until there are zero cases, that should be the way forward,” he said.

Speaking about the vaccination programme, he said February 20 has been set as the deadline for vaccinating healthcare workers.

More targeted testing and random testing in places where there are large crowds - markets, malls, bus stands and closed environments - will, henceforth, be the focus of the state in the backdrop of the new clusters of cases.

“All contacts, ILI and SARI cases are to be mandatorily tested. Our testing figures are slightly lower than expected. Positives could be getting missed. We’re ensuring that the districts start testing again,” said the state’s director of the National Health Mission Dr Arundhati Chandrashekhar.

Trilok Chandra said, “For example, BBMP is reporting 200 cases every day. They should be testing only 2,000, but are testing 20,000. Randomly picking up people will not help. Targeted testing should be the focus.” BBMP on Monday tested 22,175 samples.

Vaccine hesitancy

“There is 60% vaccine coverage among anganwadi workers and ASHA workers. Among nursing and medical college students, there are reasons like exams and problems like taking the second dose when they need to go back to their native places,” Arundhati said.

If any health worker misses vaccination this month, no extension of the deadline will be given and he or she has to wait till it is available for the public, she clarified.