New Delhi: Amid the rising COVID surge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the states to be vigil and emphasized the need for strengthened surveillance with focus on genome sequencing and increased testing.
Key Takeaways:
- PM Modi chaired a high-level review meeting amid four cases of the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 which is on surge in China.
- PM Modi cautioned officials against complacency and advised strict vigil. He reiterated that Covid is not over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures.
- The PM stressed the need to ensure that the entire Covid infrastructure is at all levels while maintaining a high level of preparedness in terms of equipment, processes, and human resources.
- He further advised States to audit Covid-specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including Oxygen Cylinders, PSA plants, and ventilators.
- He has further directed states to increase the efforts of genome sequencing.
- He advised states to share a larger number of samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (lGSLs) for analysis on a daily basis.
- In view of the upcoming festivals, PM Modi urged citizens to wear masks in crowded places.
- PM Modi also urged that that precaution dose may be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.
- He further advised states and officials to monitor the prices and availability of essential medicines on a daily basis.