Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to hold review meeting today with southern states, UTs over COVID situation

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a review meeting on Friday with southern states and union territories over the COVID-19/ Omicron situation. The meeting is slated to take place at 2.30 pm and Mandaviya is likely to discuss the public health preparedness and response measures being undertaken by states in light of the Omicron variant of COVID.

According to government officials, the health ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be attending the COVID review meeting with Mansukh Mandaviya today. Senior health department officials will also be present.

In a previous meeting, Mandaviya asked states to ramp up testing, vaccination.

Previously, Mandaviya had held a meeting with the northern states and had urged the states to intensify the



vaccination drives and revamp testing. He had also asked state governments to track those under home quarantine to ensure that those in critical condition get medicines as quickly as possible.

"Dr Mansukh Mandaviya urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model and ensure that more and more centers of teleconsultations are opened. This will enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts stationed at the district hubs," Union Health Ministry said.

During the previous meeting, Mandaviya had also urged the states and union territories to expedite activities under the ECRP-II package. "Health Ministers and the State authorities to plug the existing gaps by efficiently utilizing the amount sanctioned for various infra projects. With strengthened health infrastructure, we can meet any health emergency and public health crisis with better preparedness," he had said.