PM Modi reviews COVID situation across country, takes stock of pandemic in all states/UTs with CMs

As India witnesses a significant spike in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a virtual Covid-19 review meeting with the Chief Ministers of all states and union territories. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya are a part of the meeting.

Local containment, extensive vaccination and pro-active steps are the three major points PM Modi laid stress on. People may also try India's age-old wisdom of drinking kadha, PM Modi said. “It is not a medicine, but a tried-and-tested tradition of India,” PM Modi said. 

Talking about Omicron, the variant which is driving the present surge of the pandemic in India and the world, PM Modi said in the initial days of the Omicron outbreak, there was some doubt regarding Omicron. But now the situation is clear and countries like the United States are reporting 14 lakh cases in a day because of Omicron, PM Modi said.

“This is the third year of India's fight against the pandemic. India's victory is certain,” PM Modi said in his closing remarks at the interaction with the chief ministers.

The Prime Minister had also chaired a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the country on January 9, through video conference. During that review meeting, PM Modi had stressed on the need to ensure adequate health infrastructure at the district level.

India logged 2.47 lakh new Covid cases, 27 per cent jump from yesterday while the active cases rose to 11,17,531, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll climbed to 4,85,035 with 380 fresh fatalities. India's Omicron tally stands at 5,488.