PM Narendra Modi chairs high level meeting to review status and preparedness of public health response to Covid-19, in New Delhi on December 22, 2022.
New Delhi: In the backdrop of a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 situation in the country, preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign in the country and the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and their public health implications for the country.
A comprehensive presentation was made regarding the global Covid-19 situation including the rising cases in countries by Secretary, Health and Member, NITI Aayog. 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% in the week ending December 22, 2022. However, 5.9 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally in the last 6 weeks.
The Prime Minister cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil. He reiterated that Covid is not over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports. He also stressed the need to ensure 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 the operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including Oxygen Cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources. He also directed officials to ramp up testing and also genomic sequencing efforts. States have been asked to share a larger number of samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (lGSLs) for Genome Sequencing on a daily basis, to support the timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate undertaking requisite public health measures.
Modi urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times, especially in view of the upcoming festive season, including wearing masks in crowded public places. He said that precaution doses may be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.
The Government assured there is adequate availability with regard to medicines, vaccines and hospital beds.
– global bihari bureau
