Warnings Of Covid Resurgence Marked By Ritualism, Not Science

COLUMN/ THE WRITE LINE
Dr. Amitav Banerjee

December 27, 2022:In response to reports of a new Covid-19 surge in many countries, especially in China, India’s health ministry issued a letter on December 20, 2022 to all the states and Union Territories, stating that India controlled the spread of the coronavirus using the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccinate and Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The letter goes on to bring to the notice operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy for Covid-19 issued in June this year, which calls for early detection, isolation, testing, and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and confirm outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The letter also advises the states and UTs to gear up genome sequencing through designated laboratories to enable timely detection of newer variants that will help in undertaking requisite public health measures.

Dr. V K Paul, a member of the national public policy think…