Health dept. reiterates steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission

The Health department has reiterated the public health alert that people take adequate personal protection to prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19. Masking in public places as well as in closed spaces like auditoriums are important to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially since the LF.7, the new variant in circulation, which is a sublineage of Omicron, is highly transmissible.

The OP clinics and emergency rooms in many hospitals have begun to show an uptick in the number of people coming with respiratory infections. Though most are mild cases, cases with secondary bacterial infections, requiring antibiotics, have also been going up.

Testing has gone up in both private sector as well as public sector hospitals, following a Health department directive that all cases with respiratory symptoms be tested so that influenza cases (which can benefit from early treatment with antivirals) can be separated from COVID-19 cases.

Masking must in hospitals

Masking and maintaining cough etiquette are extremely important to prevent disease transmission. Masking is mandatory in hospitals so that they do not turn into transmission centres for COVID-19. All hospitals have also been instructed to strictly adhere to infection control practices.

Pregnant women and people with comorbidities, especially uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, should take the masking mandate seriously, Health Minister Veena George said here.

Testing goes up

She said that COVID-19 cases are going up in Kerala because testing has been increased across districts. According to the Health ministry’s data, of the 6,491 active cases in the country (as on June 9), 1,957 are in Kerala. However, only about 80 persons are hospitalised, Ms. George said.

The Health authorities are keeping a close watch on hospitalisations and ICU admissions across districts and these seem to be stable, officials said.

Published - June 09, 2025 09:36 pm IST