Lok Sabha Question No. 1639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Revival of Control rooms to deal with Omicron Situation
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2022

## REVIVAL OF CONTROL ROOMS TO DEAL WITH OMICRON SITUATION

## 1639.   SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

- ( a) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  advisory  to  the  States/UTs  to  revive  control rooms at district level to deal with Omicron Situation and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the States/UTs have been asked to equip control rooms with all infrastructure facilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide all assistance to the States/UTs to deal with Omicron situation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## ANSWER ( DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has reviewed, updated and issued 'guidelines for home isolation' whereby States/UTS were advised to operationalise the district and sub-district level  control  rooms  so  that  people  under  home-isolation  may  contact  these  control  rooms  for clinical support and seamless transfer through ambulance from home to the dedicated hospital, if warranted.  These  control  rooms  can  also  make  outbound  calls  to  the  patients  under  home isolation to monitor their status.

Government  of  India  is  supporting  States  in  their  endeavor  to  manage  COVID-19  since  the beginning  of  pandemic.  Given  the  emergence  of  mutated  variants  with  variable  impact  on transmissibility, virulence and effectiveness of vaccines, likelihood of resurgence of COVID-19 trajectory  in  the  country  is  monitored  by  various  expert  committees  under  Indian  Council  of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services and other relevant Ministries/Departments. Union Ministry of Health & FW keeps a close watch over COVID-19 situation across the country and globally.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides technical guidance for managing various aspects of COVID-19. To disseminate various clinical guidelines for appropriate management of cases, a

series of webinars were held under MoHFW's Center of Excellence initiative for all State Level Centers of Excellence  and  district level public and  private COVID  health  facilities in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi and Indian Medical Association.

Besides  regular  review  meetings  at  the  level  of  Union  Health  Minister  with  all  relevant stakeholders including subject experts, review meetings with States/UTs through video conferencing have been conducted under Union Health Minister and senior officials of Health Ministry  to  review  preparedness  and  response  measures  for  COVID-19  pandemic.  States/UTs have been repeatedly urged to take up the following activities:

-  Strict monitoring of International travelers in the community.
-  Contact tracing of positive individuals & follow up for 14 days.
-  Genome sequencing of positive samples through INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner.
-  Monitoring of areas where cluster of positive cases emerges.
-  Further strengthening of COVID-19 testing infrastructure and ensuring early identification of cases through adequate testing across the States.
-  Ensuring preparedness of health infrastructure (availability of ICU, oxygen supported beds, ventilators, etc.) and upgrading health infrastructure under ECRP-II including in rural areas and for pediatric cases.
-  Commissioning all PSA plants, ensuring sufficient logistics, drugs etc.
-  Ensuring COVID-19 vaccination for the eligible population including coverage among young adolescents (15-18 years) and precaution dose for health care workers, frontline workers and elderly with comorbidities.
-  Ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Union Ministry of Health & FW provides support to States/UTs to enhance preparedness and response capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. Funding support is also  provided  to  States/UTs  through  National  Health  Mission,  State  Disaster  Response  Funds (SDRF) and Emergency COVID-19 Response and Preparedness packages. Under ECRP Phase II, a package of Rs. 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central Component) has been approved to upgrade health infrastructure including maintaining buffer stock of essential drugs. Of this, as on 31 st January 2022, funds to the tune of Rs. 7245.95 crore have been released to States/UTs as part of Central component to strengthen health infrastructure to manage any surge in cases.