COVID-19 threat: In high-level meeting, PMO reviews situation, calls for readiness of hospitals

Amid rising coronavirus cases across the country, Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday, April 19, to review the status of the public health response to COVID-19. In the meeting, Mishra advised officials to ensure the operational readiness of hospital infrastructure right from the sub-district level, highlighted the need to examine the COVID-19 situation regularly and update advisories to guide the states.

He also reiterated the continuation of the ongoing time-tested strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour among the masses.

A comprehensive presentation was made by Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. During the meeting, he provided an overview of the global COVID-19 situation.

He highlighted that India has been witnessing a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases with the majority of cases being reported in 8 states (Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Rajasthan).

He further added that the sudden increase in positivity rate was also highlighted along with the status of the tests being conducted in the country.

The Health Secretary also informed that states had already been advised that they may take steps for the procurement of the requisite COVID-19 vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers at their end without any prior approval from the Union Ministry of Health.

Private hospitals in states may also directly procure such vaccines from the manufacturer. These vaccines, once procured, may be administered as per the existing COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.

After the detailed presentation, Dr Mishra highlighted that for managing localised surges, it is essential that sufficient health infrastructure be available at the sub-district level, and the same may be ensured in consultation with states. He further said that advisors for guiding states should be assessed based on evolving scenarios and updated accordingly.

The meeting was attended by Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary; Dr Vinod Paul, Member, NITI Aayog; T.V. Somanathan, Finance Secretary; Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Smt. S. Aparna, Secretary Pharmaceuticals; Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Civil Aviation; Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, AYUSH; Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR and DG ICMR; Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Biotechnology and Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting.

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