PM Modi reviews Covid-19 situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting on the Covid-19 situation in the country. Amid massive oxygen shortage and criticism over the government’s handling of Covid19 crisis across the country, PM Modi emphasised on ramping up testing.
With 3,26,098 fresh infections, India’s Coronavirus caseload rose to 2,43,72,907 on Saturday. According to the Union health ministry, the country’s total Covid-19 death toll increased to 2,66,207 with 3,890 fresh fatalities. The active cases have reduced recovered from the virus has increased to 2,04,32,898. The national capital recorded 6,430 new Covid-19 cases and 337 fatalities on Saturday while the positivity rate dipped to 11.32 per cent. While Mumbai reported 1,147 new Covid-19 cases, 2,333 recoveries, and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Chairing a high-level meeting, Mr Modi called for augmenting healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door-todoor testing and surveillance, and asserted that localised containment strategies are the need of
the hour, especially in states with high positivity rate in districts.
He also said states should be encouraged to report Covid-19 numbers transparently, “without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts”, remarks that come amid reports that many states have been under-reporting their case and fatality tallies.
Mr Modi also directed that a distribution plan for ensuring oxygen supply in rural areas should be worked out, including through provision of oxygen concentrators.
Uttar Pradesh on Saturday registered 281 fresh Covid-19 fatalities, raising the death toll to 17,283, while the infection count climbed to 16,09,140 with 12,547 more cases. Kerala’s Covid-19 tally has risen to 20,88,208 with 32,680 fresh cases, death toll has climbed to 6,339 with 96 more fatalities. West Bengal registers 144 new Covid-19 fatalities, highest so far in a single day, 19,511 fresh cases.