A five-step plan to curb the second wave of the coronavirus was revealed by the Centre after a high-level meeting, chaired by the Union Health Secretary and attended by officials from 12 states and union territories, held on Saturday. Officials from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana, among others attended the meeting to discuss the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. 

The five-step plan includes “exponential increase in testing, effective isolation and contact tracing, re-invigoration of healthcare workers, ensuring the public follows COVID protocols and targeted approach to vaccination”, according to a report in NDTV. 

Also Read | Mumbai records 6,123 new COVID-19 cases, highest-ever single-day spike

The Centre has also identified 46 “high-burden districts” and directed states and UTs to focus on “stringent containment and public health measures”, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

These 46 districts accounted for nearly 71% of new infections, along with 69% new deaths, this month. It was also highlighted that 36 districts in Maharashtra accounted for 59.8% of all new COVID-19 cases this week. 

Also Read | Why second COVID-19 wave in India could be more aggressive than the first

States and UTs have also been told to ramp up the use of RT-PCR tests to 70% and ensure stringent contact tracing and testing. 

The Centre also directed states and UTs to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols after results of a study on public compliance revealed that only 44% people wore masks in public.  

India reported a total of 62,258 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours on Saturday, the largest single-day rise in five months, Maharashtra alone accounted for over half of which with more than 37,000 infections.