Uttarakhand is second in the nation after Ladakh when it comes to Covid-19 recovery rate. Necessary precautions and measures must be taken to check the further spread of the virus, said chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat while reviewing efforts taken to control the pandemic through a video conference here on Saturday.

Rawat directed all district magistrates to ensure that those under quarantine are regularly monitored. The chief development officers should be made the nodal officers for this purpose.

Further, to constantly monitor home quarantine and tourists spots the personnel of PRD, Home Guards and others should be deployed. Strict action should be taken against those found violating the rules.

In high risk cases, the Arogya Setu aoo should also be checked regularly. The surveillance system needs to be strengthened more, he said.

The CM stressed on the need for special vigilance in the four plain districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital. Special focus should also be laid on sanitisation in these districts.

The majority of the active Covid-19 cases in the state are in these four districts. Rawat directed the officials to ensure that physical distancing and other guidelines related to Covid-19 are strictly followed in vegetable markets and tourist spots.

Action should be taken against those not following the standards. He further said that containment zones should be made at micro level so that these can be monitored more effectively and the people do not face unnecessary inconvenience. 

The CM said that the Covid sample testing has been increased in the state. The sample testing will pick up more pace as the state is expected to get more TruNat machines soon.

He directed the Nainital district magistrate to build a 500-bed Covid care centre with the help of SDRF. The CM also directed all the DMs to maintain all necessary facilities in view of the monsoon. All preparations for protection from dengue should also be completed.

He stated that all the district magistrates and their team are working well in the pandemic and the public is also cooperating proactively. However, full vigilance has to be maintained, he stressed.

Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh said that priority should be accorded to the surveillance system. Sample testing should be targeted in all the districts.

 He also spoke of the need to also focus on economic activities while ensuring protection from Covid. Various officials concerned and all DMs were among those who attended the meeting.