Local bodies in Kerala’s Ernakulam yet to gear up for possible Omicron spread

Call to regroup rapid response teams

Local bodies in Ernakulam are yet to have a plan of action to tackle the situation emerging out of a possible detection of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

With the initial role being confined to the Health department, civic bodies are awaiting directions from the Department of Local Self Governments on the way forward. Senior department officials said they had not received any specific communication on the plan of action for addressing the scenario.

However, ward-level and rapid response teams can be regrouped to carry out the plan at the ground level. Ward-level samitis had turned inactive in local bodies, where the number of active cases of SARS-CoV-2 had gone down considerably, they said.