Delhi Govt Issues Advisory Amid 'Rising COVID-19 Cases'

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Mandatory 5% Sampling of Respiratory cases to Track Covid-19: Delhi Govt

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, May 23, 2025 – In response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the Directorate General of Health Services under the Delhi Government issued a comprehensive advisory to all government hospitals, urging immediate preparedness and preventive action.

The advisory, issued on Friday, and signed by the Special Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), outlines a series of measures to be strictly implemented by Medical Directors, Superintendents, and hospital administrators across Delhi.

The move has come amid a sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asian nations. Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and others have reported a sharp jump in number of patients affected by COVID-19.

Key Directives:

Hospital Preparedness: Hospitals must ensure availability of essential resources such as beds, oxygen, antibiotics, ventilators, BiPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and other critical equipment in functional condition.
Staff Refreshers & Isolation: A dedicated staff refresher training should be conducted and isolation wards readied.
Disease Reporting: Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases must be reported daily through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). Confirmed influenza and COVID-19 cases should also be documented on the IHIP portal.
Data Monitoring: All relevant health parameters must be reported on the Delhi State Health Data Management Portal daily.
Testing Protocols: Hospitals are instructed to follow ICMR’s updated testing guidelines. COVID testing is to be carried out in 5% of ILI cases and 10% of SARI cases.
Genome Sequencing: Positive COVID-19 samples are to be sent to Lok Nayak Hospital for whole genome sequencing, aiding in early detection of new variants.
Respiratory Etiquette: Strict compliance with respiratory etiquette, including mandatory masking within hospital premises, has been reinforced.

The advisory is issued with prior approval from the competent authority and has been circulated to top officials including the Health Minister, all hospital heads, and senior district health authorities.

This proactive directive comes amid growing concerns about a potential new wave of COVID-19 infections, and highlights the Delhi Government’s commitment to swift containment and robust healthcare response.

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