States complain of oxygen, medicine & beds shortage
India sees highest 1-day deaths at 1,341 and 2,34,692 fresh cases PM urges to keep Kumbh participation symbolic amid Covid crisis
New Delhi, April 17: With hospitals bursting at the seams, oxygen supplies dwindling and ICU beds in short supply, the Centre on Saturday assured adequate availability of everything to states. The assurance came on a day when India recorded the highest single-day deaths at 1,341 and 2,34,692 fresh cases, pushing its Covid-19 tally to 1,45,26,609 and the death toll due to the viral disease to 1,75,649.
Registering a steady increase for the 38th day in a row, the tally of active Covid-19 cases has climbed to 16,79,740 in the country, accounting for 11.56 per cent of its total caseload, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 87.23 per cent.
The mounting crisis is being made worse by shortage of oxygen cylinders, ventilators, Remdesivir and vaccines in hospitals, 11 states and Union Territories said at a meeting convened by the Centre on Saturday amid the worrying spurt in coronavirus cases.
The high-level meeting was chaired by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan with the health ministers of 11 states and UTs to review measures taken by them for prevention, containment and management of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
The states, including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, have been reporting an unprecedented surge in new Covid cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also held a high-level review on the emerging Covid-19 situation in the country, which is blowing over with every passing day, said on Saturday the ongoing Kumbh in Haridwar should now have symbolic participation due to the Covid-19 crisis. He, however, did not order that it be called off.
Mr Modi tweeted that he spoke to Swami Avdheshanand Giri of Juna Akhara over telephone and enquired about the health of saints, many of whom have contracted
the infection, and also conveyed his appreciation for their cooperation with the local administration. “I prayed that two ‘shahi snan’ have taken place and Kumbh (participation) should now be kept symbolic. This will boost the fight against this crisis,” the Prime Minister tweeted in Hindi.
Responding to Mr Modi’s call, Avdheshanand urged people to not come to the Kumbh mela for bathing in large numbers due to the Covid-19 situation and to follow the rules.
The ongoing Kumbh, which has seen people from different parts of the country attending in large numbers, has drawn flak from various quarters as the number of Covid-19 cases have zoomed at a rapid pace in the past few weeks. The event has also reported the coronavirus cases in large numbers.
On Saturday evening, Mr Modi reviewed the availability and supply of ventilators, oxygen and medicines to fight the pandemic and called for utilising the entire national capacity across private and public sectors to produce vaccines, amid concerns in various states about lack of these essentials.
At the meeting to review the status of preparedness to handle the Covid-19 situation, Mr Modi said local administrations needed to be proactive and sensitive
◗ THE ONGOING Kumbh has drawn flak from various quarters as the number of Covid-19 cases have zoomed at a rapid pace in the past few weeks. It also reported coronavirus cases in large numbers.
to people’s concerns. These remarks assume significance in the backdrop of reports of Covid-19 patients and their families accusing the authorities in several states of apathy in providing treatment.
Mr Modi said there is no substitute for “testing, tracking and treatment” to reducing mortality.
Directing officials to ensure close coordination with states, he said all necessary measures must be taken to ramp up the availability of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients and that additional supply of beds through temporary hospitals and isolation centres should be ensured.
He also spoke about a need to utilise the full potential of India’s pharmaceutical industry to meet the rising demand of various medicines and reviewed the status of the supply of Remdesivir and other medicines.
On the issue of vaccination, the Prime Minister directed all officials to make efforts to utilize the entire national capacity, in the public as well as the private sector, to ramp up vaccine production.