New Delhi: As 1,17,100 new COVID-19 cases were reported and the daily positivity rate jumped to 7.74%, in the country within the last 24 hours till 9 am today, the Government reviewed preparedness status of the entire spectrum of oxygen infrastructure, updated international travel guidelines, and decided to monitor the prevailing business ecosystem.
Underlining the challenges posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan emphasized that it is the primary and critical responsibility of States and UTs to ensure all oxygen equipment, including pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders,ventilators, till the field level at all health facilities is tested and kept in a functional state to meet any emergent situation.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) also took cognizance of the steps taken by various State Governments/UTs to control the spread of COVID-19 cases today, and decided to monitor the status and issues arising (if any) during transportation and delivery of goods and essential commodities due to the restrictions (if any) imposed by various State Governments/UTs.
In the event of any manufacturing, transportation, distribution, wholesale or e-commerce companies facing difficulties in transportation and distribution of goods or mobilization of resources, the same may be informed to this Department at the following telephone number/email:- Telephone: + 91 11 23063554, 23060625, Email: dpiit-controlroom@gov.in The issues reported by various stakeholders through this control room shall be taken up with the concerned State/UT Governments.
Moreover, the Department of Commerce and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) would monitor the status of export and imports and difficulties faced by trade stakeholders in view of the surge of COVID-19 cases. DGFT stated it has operationalized a ‘COVID-19 Helpdesk’ that would look into issues relating to Department of Commerce/DGFT, Import and Export Licensing Issues, Customs clearance delays and complexities arising thereon, Import/Export documentation issues, Banking matters etc. The Helpdesk would also collect and collate trade related issues concerning other Ministries/Department/Agencies of Central Government and State Governments and will co-ordinate to seek their support and provide possible resolution(s). The DGFT also urged the Export-Import community to submit information on its website and submit information relating to their issues on which support is required.
In view of the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, especially of Omicron variant in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), which includes Delhi and nine bordering districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla yesterday emphasized the need to have a unified strategy in the Delhi-NCR Region to tackle the COVID19 pandemic.
The Union Home Secretary stressed on ramping up of testing in all the districts of Delhi-NCR, where testing appears to be less. All measures and mechanisms to contain and curb the spread of the virus must be reinvigorated, he stated.
– global bihari bureau
