Amid a global surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the situation in the country and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports. Modi also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded public places, especially in view of the upcoming festive season.
The prime minister 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 operational readiness of hospital infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources.
India has restarted random sampling of international passengers at airports across the country after a sudden surge in cases was reported in several countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, France and the United States. The country has reported four cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, the strain behind the sudden surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in China.
During the meeting, Modi urged that precaution dose may be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups. He also advised to regularly monitor availability and prices of essential medicines.
The 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 per cent in the week ending December 22, the PMO said. However, 5.9 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally since the last six weeks.
Earlier, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the states have been asked to increase the genome sequencing of positive cases. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. “There are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes," he said.
As a health minister, Mandaviya said, he has spoken to many countries and WHO about what all precautions are needed to be taken and also understand in which direction the pandemic is moving.
