Efforts on to prevent 2nd wave, Uddhav tells Modi
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is making efforts to prevent a second wave of Covid-19 in the state, chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray said in a meeting of chief ministers with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Thackeray said although the state has been successful in bringing down cases in Dharavi and Worli, the battle against Covid-19 is not over yet. The CM said the government is working towards reducing the case fatality rate (CFR) in Maharashtra, which stands at 3.44%.
Modi held a meeting with chief ministers of Maharashtra Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing, to review measures taken to tackle Covid-19. According to a statement by the Maharashtra government, Modi said that if the 10 states, which have 80% of cases in the country, win against Covid-19, then the country would emerge victorious.
“Efforts are being taken to bring down the mortality rate. There has been praise over controlling the situation in Dharavi and Worli. But the battle is not over yet. The government is working to see that there is no second wave in Maharashtra,” a statement quoting Thackeray mentioned. He added that the state has been transparent in providing all data.
The state, according to the CM, has 3.5 lakh beds ready with oxygen supply, ventilators and other equipment, but there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
The CM pointed out that several people who have recovered from Covid-19, have contracted other illnesses. “Those who have recovered from Covid-19 have contracted some other illnesses. There is a need to set up a mechanism to treat such individuals,” the statement added. The state, as of Tuesday, had 368,435 recovered patients.
Thackeray added that the state will set up infectious diseases control hospitals in all districts, including Mumbai. He also expressed the need for research on how and why different types of viruses originate.
During the meeting, Thackeray reiterated the demand to cancel final-year examinations for non-professional courses, to ensure safety of students. He called for a decision on the issue at the national level. He said students cannot be left “hanging” due to the “uncertainty” during these pandemic times. Thackeray also called for a decision in the case of final-year medical students.
The CM said that till the time a vaccine for Covid-19 is developed, masks and social distancing are the only medicine. “If we learn to live with the coronavirus, the process of unlocking restrictions will be easier and faster,” Thackeray said during the meeting.