The Union Health Ministry has asked Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to follow a five-fold strategy of test, track, treat, vaccinations and and adherence of COVID19 appropriate behaviour of wearing mask, maintaining hand hygiene and physical distancing, as these States have witnessed a rise in COVID cases. In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of the States, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, there are a few States which are reporting a higher number of cases indicating the possible localised spread of infection. He stressed on the need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The Health Ministry has advised the States to examine the situation of COVID-19 at the district and sub-district levels and maintain focus on the implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of COVID. It said the five-fold strategy – Test-Track Treat-Vaccination should be followed.</span><br />