Virendra Singh Rawat / Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up Covid-19 surveillance in the National Capital Region (NCR) following a sudden surge in the Omicron cases.
In the last 24 hours, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) and Ghaziabad districts reported 65 and 20 new cases respectively, while Lucknow witnessed 10 fresh cases.
According to the state government, the genome sequencing of samples collected from new Covid-19 patients in the NCR confirmed the Omicron variant.
Taking cognisance of rising cases in the NCR and other states, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday directed health officials to intensify vigil in the NCR as well as border districts.
Besides, the state has mandated facemasks in the NCR districts viz. G B Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr and Baghpat as well as the state capital of Lucknow.
Besides, the authorities have been asked to proactively identify people who are yet to be vaccinated so as to administer the requisite jab.
“The public address system should be used effectively and those people who show any symptoms should undergo testing. The masses should be exhorted to strictly adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols,” he ordered. He underlined people should exercise caution and remain vigilant.
However, the CM, citing the opinion of experts, claimed although cases could rise yet there was little possibility of new patients needing hospitalisation or getting critically ill.
Meanwhile, UP currently has 695 active Covid-19 cases. In the last 24 hrs, about 84,000 corona tests were conducted, while 115 new cases were reported even as 29 patients recovered.
So far, more than 300 million Covid-19 jabs have been administered in the state. While nearly all the eligible population has been covered with the first dose, 86 percent of the population has received both the doses.
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“Although, the vax achievement is satisfactory, yet we have to accelerate the vaccination of children,” he stressed. The booster doses are being administered in 700 private centres in the state.