Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya  directed states and union territories to ramp up Covid testing where it has gone down and monitor people who are opting for home isolation.

According to sources, Mansukh Mandaviya interacted virtually with the health ministers of nine states and union territories over the Covid-19 situation in the country.

During the meeting, he advised them to send Covid testing and vaccination data timely. He also said that testing should be ramped up in the states where it has gone down.

The Union Health Minister also told the States/UTs that as a large number of people are opting for home isolation, they should be monitored as per national guidelines.

The Health Minister held a meeting with governments and administrations of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Earlier, he had interacted with the Health Ministers and Principal Secretaries of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu.

In the meeting, he had advised that states must review the strengthening of health infrastructure, establish teleconsultation hubs in every district and focus on raising awareness on available services.

Meanwhile, the single day rise in Covid-19 infections was recorded at 2,55,874, taking India’s total tally of cases to 3,97,99,202.

The death toll has climbed to 4,90,462 with 614 daily fatalities.