PM Modi Advises States To Consider ‘Himachal Pradesh Model’ To Fight COVID-19 In Red Zones: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advised states governments to consider the ‘Himachal Pradesh model’ to fight the novel coronavirus spread in their respective states, The Economic Times reported attributing officials.

The Himalayan state, under this model, has conducted an exercise of screening its entire population for influenza-like symptoms. Those who showed symptoms and did not recover after initial medication were tested through a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

The report suggests, central government officials have asked the states to look for a similar approach in their respective ‘red’ and ‘orange’ zones and conduct door-to-door screening of citizens. State authorities can also encourage people to opt for self-declaration of such symptoms through the Aarogya Setu App, centre suggested.

According to the report, Himachal Pradesh has screened its entire population of about 70 lakh people for influenza-like symptoms in a door-to-door campaign.

The ET also quoted Himachal Pradesh’s Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman who said as many as 16,000 state officials had conducted the exercise.

“This was done to rule out community transmission. About 10,000 persons with influenza-like symptoms were identified and 1,500 of them tested for COVID-19 after they did not improve through initial medication,” Dhiman said.

The state has one of the best testing rates in the country with 700 people tested per 10 lakh population.

Himachal Pradesh has so far reported 40 COVID-19 cases, out of which 25 have recovered and one has passed away, as per the data provided by the Union Health Ministry on 29 April. The state has also not reported any fresh case in the last five days.