Bisheshwar Mishra / NEW DELHI
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today said that government has taken several precautionary measures to tackle the challenge of the new Coronavirus variant, ‘Omicron.’
In his 90-minutes reply in the Lok Sabha to the marathon discussion on the COVID pandemic, he said, two cases of infections due to the Omicron strain have been detected in Bengaluru, including one traveller from South Africa and another from the city.
He said, contact tracing has been done in both cases and the COVID status of all the contacts has been ascertained. The genome sequencing of the viral samples drawn from those who tested positive among them is underway. He said, the new strain has been detected in 25 different countries as of 25th of November.
On the question of administering booster doses against COVID, the Minister said, the scientific opinion of the expert’s group on it will be taken into account while deciding about it.
Dr. Mandaviya said, each and every district in the country will have a facility with at least 50 beds to treat the pandemic disease among other illnesses with modern diagnostic facilities capable of doing 115 kinds of tests. The medical facilities will be established at a cost of about a hundred crore rupees each, he said and added, the works on them have already begun.
The Health Minister said, Indians including those living abroad were proud to note the milestone of the country crossing 100-crore vaccinations on 21st of October. He said, 125 crore doses have so far been administered. Of all the people in the eligible age group, 85 percent have received at least one jab while 56 percent have got both doses. He also said, 22 crore more doses are at hand for use.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, the Union Government established a buffer stock of key medicines during the peak of the pandemic to meet any sudden surge in demand. He recalled that indigenous manufacture of key medicines like Remdesivir and equipment like ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and other medical tools multiplied in the country during the pandemic to meet the growing need. He noted that the indigenous development and manufacture of COVID vaccines testify to the country’s strength. Besides, he said, financial assistance has also been made available to the states to embolden them in their fight against the disease.
Lauding the role of all kinds of health workers for their relentless fight against the pandemic, the Minister praised the development of robust platforms like CoWin and e-Sanjeevani.
Dr Mandaviya said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has all along been in constant touch with the Chief Ministers of all states since the reporting of the first case of COVID-19 in Kerala early 2020. He also said, guidelines on various aspects were being issued from time to time to effectively curtail the spread of the disease. Several Task Forces and Experts Groups were also constituted to arrive at multi-pronged strategies to overcome the challenges posed by the infection, he noted.
Responding to the criticism of malfunctioning of equipment supplied using PM-CARES, the Minister said, it is a politically motivated charge adding, the State Governments have given installation certificates for over 70 percent of the ventilators implying that they are put to use. He pointed out that without the certificate, no amount is paid to the supplier. He also said, the technical personnel handling the equipment were imparted training as well.