Kohima, 25 March (MTNews): Union Health Ministry has asked States and Union Territories to keep a close watch on the evolving cases of diseases including COVID-19, Influenza Like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness.
In an advisory, the Ministry said that COVID-19 and influenza share a number of similarities in terms of mode of transmission, high-risk population, clinical signs and symptoms. It said these diseases can be prevented by following simple public health measures including avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, using handkerchiefs or tissue while sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask in crowded and closed settings, maintaining hand hygiene and avoiding spitting in public places.
The Ministry also stressed raising community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene to limit the transmission of these diseases.