by NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday underscored the need to focus on preparedness and ensure adequate health infrastructure at the district level to combat rapidly rising Covid-19 cases across the country powered by Omicron variant of SARS-COV2.
The PM also stressed on accelerating Covid vaccination among adolescents on a ‘mission mode’ , building upon the strong foundation that has been laid with more than 31% of youngsters of 15-17 years age having been covered with the first dose in just one week since the programme was rolled out for them on January 3.
In a high-level meeting on Sunday evening, the PM assessed the current pandemic situation in different states, preparedness to deal with it and the progress in vaccination. The review meeting was attended by home minister Amit Shah, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya and senior government officials. The chief of the railway board and the secretary of the civil aviation ministry were also present.
The meeting, which came a day after the Election Commission announced poll schedule for five states. assumes significance as the country will start administering ‘precaution dose’ or booster shots to health and frontline workers along with those above 60 years of age with co-morbidities from Monday.
As some states are reporting surge in cases as well as high positivity rate, the PM directed that intensive containment and active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases and required technical support be provided to states, which are currently reporting higher cases. He also highlighted the need to ensure effective usage of masks and physical distancing measures as a new normal to control the spread.
Modi also called for a meeting with chief ministers to discuss state-specific scenarios, best-practices and public health response. Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has called for a meeting with state health ministers to discuss the Covid-19 situation and measures to tackle the surge.
Over 1.59 lakh new cases were recorded from across the country on Saturday. The total active caseload of Covid-19 stood at 5.9 lakh. The daily positivity has increased to 10.2%.
The PM further exhorted the need for effective implementation of home isolation for mild or asymptomatic cases and to disseminate the factual information to the community at large, the government said in a statement.
Noting that the coronavirus has been evolving continuously, Modi underlined the need for continuous scientific research in testing and vaccines besides pharmacological interventions, including genome sequencing.
Conveying gratitude for the relentless services provided by healthcare workers in managing the pandemic, he said ensuring precaution dose for them and other frontline workers should be taken up in mission mode, the statement said.
Further highlighting the need to ensure continuity of non-Covid health services while managing Covid cases, the PM underlined the need to leverage telemedicine to ensure availability of health-related guidance to people in remote and rural areas.
The PM also stressed on accelerating Covid vaccination among adolescents on a ‘mission mode’ , building upon the strong foundation that has been laid with more than 31% of youngsters of 15-17 years age having been covered with the first dose in just one week since the programme was rolled out for them on January 3.
In a high-level meeting on Sunday evening, the PM assessed the current pandemic situation in different states, preparedness to deal with it and the progress in vaccination. The review meeting was attended by home minister Amit Shah, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya and senior government officials. The chief of the railway board and the secretary of the civil aviation ministry were also present.
The meeting, which came a day after the Election Commission announced poll schedule for five states. assumes significance as the country will start administering ‘precaution dose’ or booster shots to health and frontline workers along with those above 60 years of age with co-morbidities from Monday.
As some states are reporting surge in cases as well as high positivity rate, the PM directed that intensive containment and active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases and required technical support be provided to states, which are currently reporting higher cases. He also highlighted the need to ensure effective usage of masks and physical distancing measures as a new normal to control the spread.
Modi also called for a meeting with chief ministers to discuss state-specific scenarios, best-practices and public health response. Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has called for a meeting with state health ministers to discuss the Covid-19 situation and measures to tackle the surge.
Over 1.59 lakh new cases were recorded from across the country on Saturday. The total active caseload of Covid-19 stood at 5.9 lakh. The daily positivity has increased to 10.2%.
The PM further exhorted the need for effective implementation of home isolation for mild or asymptomatic cases and to disseminate the factual information to the community at large, the government said in a statement.
Noting that the coronavirus has been evolving continuously, Modi underlined the need for continuous scientific research in testing and vaccines besides pharmacological interventions, including genome sequencing.
Conveying gratitude for the relentless services provided by healthcare workers in managing the pandemic, he said ensuring precaution dose for them and other frontline workers should be taken up in mission mode, the statement said.
Further highlighting the need to ensure continuity of non-Covid health services while managing Covid cases, the PM underlined the need to leverage telemedicine to ensure availability of health-related guidance to people in remote and rural areas.
