New Delhi, Dec 4 (TIWN) The Union Health Ministry on Saturday directed six high Covid-19 cases reporting states to take necessary steps to control the spread of the infection, and also reduce fatalities, officials said.

The states -- Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Mizoram -- have been told to take the required steps according to the strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Covid Appropriate Behaviour to keep the situation under control.  The ministry, in separate letters addressed to the six states -- has said that in the context of the new Variant of Concern -- Omicron, all states have been advised to undertake enhanced surveillance of international travellers, continued monitoring of emerging hotspots, prompt and comprehensive contact tracing of positive individuals and follow up for 14 days, sending all positive samples for genome sequencing quickly to INSACOG Labs, early identification of cases through adequate testing, review of health infrastructure preparedness and most importantly to focus on IEC and community sensitization.