PM reviews Covid-19 situation; orders audit of ventilators, ramping up testing and vaccination

By Asianet Newsable English | First Published May 15, 2021, 4:24 PM IST

The prime minister said that states should be encouraged to report their numbers transparently without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended a high-level review meeting to discuss the Covid-19 and vaccination-related situation in the country, where he emphasised that localised containment strategies are the need of the hour.

During the review meeting, officials informed the prime minister that testing had been ramped up rapidly in the country from around 50 lakh tests per week in early March to around 1.3 crore tests per week now.

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Officials briefed the prime minister about the gradually decreasing test positivity rate and increasing recovery rate.

Prime Minister Modi told that officials that testing needs to be scaled up further -- with both RT PCR and rapid tests -- in areas with high test positivity rates.

He also directed officials to augment healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door to door testing and surveillance.

Stressing upon the need for empowering ASHA and Anganwadi workers, the prime minister asked for guidelines to be made available in easy language along with illustrations for home isolation and treatment in rural areas.

PM Modi said that states should be encouraged to report their numbers transparently without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts.

He directed that a distribution plan for ensuring oxygen supply in rural areas should be worked out, including through the provision of oxygen concentrators.

Taking serious note of reports about ventilators lying unutilised in storage in some states, the prime minister ordered an immediate audit of the installation and operation of ventilators provided by the central government.

He added that refresher training for properly operating ventilators should be provided to healthcare workers if necessary.

India's fight against Covid has been guided throughout by scientists and subject experts and will continue being guided by them.

Officials briefed about the vaccination process and the state-wise coverage of 45+ population. The roadmap for future vaccine availability was also discussed. He directed officials to work closely with states to ramp up the speed of vaccination.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona

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