The Jharkhand unit of the National Health Mission on Saturday issued a health advisory to stay safe during chilly conditions with almost all parts of the state recording sub-10 degree Celsius as the lowest temperature in the last few days.

Met statistics revealed that Simdega continued to record the lowest temperature of the state for the second consecutive day on Saturday with the local observatory recording around 6.7 degrees Celsius.

Several places in central Jharkhand including Ramgarh recorded around 7 degrees Celsius while the capital Ranchi recorded around 8 degrees Celsius.

Daltonganj and Bokaro too recorded around 8 degrees Celsius while Deoghar, Giridih and several other places in northeastern Jharkhand recorded around 10 degrees Celsius.

The advisory cautions residents of the state, especially the elderly people and children, against going outside during chilly conditions, until and unless it is very necessary. It also advises all residents to use proper winter garments such as hand gloves, socks, hats, and mufflers and use glasses while going outside.

It also asks residents to use room heaters and blowers inside rooms taking all precautions. A separate column has been mentioned on diets to be taken during chilly conditions.

“Always go outside with proper foods, always consume warm and lukewarm water, avoid eating frozen foods and cold drinks and consume high-calorie foods,” the advisory mentions in the diet column.

It also asks parents not to allow children to stay outside for longer durations and advises to keep children’s exposed body parts — head, neck, chest, hand and legs — covered with woollen garments. It also asks parents to make children wear several layers of woollen garments in order to keep them warm and also frequently check the body temperature of children.

It advises residents to immediately consult physicians if there are symptoms of chills, vomiting, sluggishness, nausea and dizziness.

Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta said that the advisory was issued in view of the chilly conditions.

“It has been issued in view of the dip in temperature. We would like people especially children, the elderly and those with suppressed immune systems to adhere to the advisory to prevent health hazards. A meeting will be chaired by our chief minister Hemant Soren on December 26 to review Covid preparedness and further directives would be issued thereafter,” said Gupta.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday advised states and Union Territories to undertake a mock drill across all health facilities on December 27 to ensure the readiness of infrastructure with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources and also be on alert on Covid management in view of the spurt in cases globally.