New Delhi. Expressing concern over fast mutating nature of Corona Virus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on the strict monitoring of the mutation and keeping track of all variants, while interacting with Chief Ministers of the North-Eastern states on COVID-19 situation.
Narendra Modi asked them to be strongly cautious against crowding at hill stations without observing proper precautions. Main question in our mind should be how to prevent the third wave, he added.
Chief Ministers of Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam attended this interaction, an official release said.
Prime Minister said that North-East is important for ‘Vaccination for All-Free for All’ Campaign. Our Government has recently approved 23000 crore package which would help in improving medical infrastructure, he added.
Narendra Modi lauded the people, health workers and the governments of Northeast for their hard work in the fight against the pandemic and creating infrastructure for testing, treatment and vaccination despite the difficult terrain of the states.
Prime Minister expressed his worry over the growing number of cases in some districts and stressed the need to catch these signals and take strict actions at the micro level. He reemphasized the use of micro containment protocol in dealing with the situation and asked to make full use of the experience and best practices gathered over the last one and half years in this regard.
Narendra Modi informed that experts are studying the mutations and their impact. In such scenario, prevention and treatment are critical, he said emphasizing covid appropriate behaviour.
Prime Minister emphasized that utility of physical distancing, mask, vaccine is clear. Similarly, strategy of testing tracking and treatment is a proven strategy.
Chief Ministers thanked the Prime Minister for timely action in handling the Covid pandemic. They appreciated his special care and concern for the North-East States. Apart from the Chief Ministers, Union Ministers for Home, Defence, Health, DONER and other Ministers were present during the interaction, the release added.
Chief Ministers briefed about the progress of vaccination in their states and steps that are being taken to take vaccines to far flung areas. They also discussed the issue of vaccine hesitancy and measures being taken to overcome it.
Chief Ministers gave an account of improvement in medical infrastructure to better tackle Covid cases and the support lent through the PM CARES Fund.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked about the reduction in the overall daily number of cases but forewarned that this should not lead to one becoming lax and letting one’s guard down.
Amit Shah said that some areas of the country are witnessing high positivity rates. He emphasized on the importance of testing, tracing, tracking and vaccination.
Union Health Secretary gave an overview of the Covid cases in the country and discussed the high positivity rate in some North-East states.
He briefed about the steps taken to boost supply of medical oxygen and also gave an overview of the progress of vaccination.
