PM cautions against complacency, advises for maintaining strict Vigil
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the covid-19 situation and related aspects in the country.
The meeting was being held in a virtual mode. It was convened in view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil. Reiterating that Covid is not over yet, Mr Modi directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at International airports.
Prime Minister Modi also emphasized ensuring that the entire Covid infrastructure at all levels is maintained at a high level of preparedness in terms of equipment, processes, and human resources. He advised States to audit Covid specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including Oxygen Cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators, and human resources.
Mr Modi directed officials to ramp up testing and also genomic sequencing efforts and states have been asked to share a larger number of samples with the designated Genome Sequencing Laboratories for Genome Sequencing on a daily basis. This will support the timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate undertaking requisite public health measures.
In view of the upcoming festive season, the Prime Minister has urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded public places. He also urged that precautionary doses must be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi was informed that there is adequate availability with regard to medicines, vaccines, and hospital beds. He advised regularly monitoring the availability and prices of essential medicines.
During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was also made regarding the global Covid-19 situation including the rising cases in countries. The Prime Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 153 and weekly positivity down to 0.14 percent in the week ending today. However, 5.9 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally in the last 6 weeks.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those attended the meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, in a statement in Lok Sabha, Minister Mandaviya asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers, especially in view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations.
On Wednesday, Mandaviya had reviewed the situation and asked people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, and getting vaccinated.
Official sources have said random sample testing will be done at airports for international passengers arriving from China and other countries.
There has been a sudden spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries.
Yesterday, Dr. Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting on COVID-19 situation in the country. Reiterating that COVID is not over yet, he directed the officials to be fully geared up and strengthen surveillance.
The Minister also urged people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated against the coronavirus. It was briefed that a new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of COVID infections in China.