Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on Omicron where he appealed the people to be satark (alert) and Saavdhan (careful) in view of the new variant and stressed on contact tracing, vaccination and ramping up testing. PM Modi directed officials to maintain a high level of vigil and alertness at all levels and to work closely with the states.
The review meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, was attended by Cabinet Secretary, NITI Aayog’s Dr VK Paul, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava and other senior officials.
“He (PM Modi) directed the Centre to work in close coordination with the States to support their efforts of public health measures of containment and management under the ‘Whole of Government’ approach. The strategy of the Centre for proactive, focussed, collaborative and cooperative fight against the pandemic should guide all our future actions, the PM directed the officials,” a government statement said.
PM Modi while stressing on being alert and cautious, reiterated the need for adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour. He directed the officials to ensure that the health systems in the states, beginning from the district level, are strengthened to meet any challenge posed by Omicron.
He said that it is important to ensure Oxygen supply equipments are installed and functional; and also directed officials to review preparedness of Covid facilities in states, quarantine facilities and health infrastructure.
The Prime Minister also directed officials to send more positive samples for genome sequencing, accelerate testing for timely containment, treatment and effective contact tracing. PM directed officials that the central government should send teams to states with low vaccination, rising cases, insufficient health infrastructure to assist them improve the situation, the statement added.
The number of cases of fast-spreading Omicron variant has risen over 200 in India, with Maharashtra and Delhi reporting the highest number of infections.
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Source: News18