PM Modi holds meeting as India battles second COVID-19 wave
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an important meeting today to review the coronavirus situation in the country, which is deteriorating with each passing day. Yesterday, he had evaluated the coronavirus condition in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and urged eligible beneficiaries to get vaccinated. He had held another meeting on Saturday on the condition prevailing in India. Here are more details.
Meeting comes on day that India recorded highest-ever daily spike
PM Modi's crucial meeting comes on a day when India touched another grim milestone in the coronavirus battle. A record 2,73,810 fresh cases were added on Sunday and 1,619 more people succumbed to the disease. The total caseload has now crossed the 1.50 crore mark and the death toll has increased to 1,78,769. The number of active cases has swelled to 19,29,329.
On Saturday, he had emphasized on testing, tracking, and treatment
During Saturday's high-level meeting, PM Modi had underlined that there is no substitute for testing, tracking, and treatment. He said early treatment is the key to keeping the mortality rate low. India's recovery rate has now slipped to 86%. "Together India had defeated COVID-19 last year and India can do it again, with the same principles but faster speed and coordination," he told officials.
He directed officials to set up temporary hospitals, isolation centers
He had also directed officials to take necessary steps to ramp up the availability of hospital beds and suggested setting up temporary hospitals and isolation centers. He said it is crucial to exploit the full potential of India's pharmaceutical industry to meet the rising demands of drugs like Remdesivir. PM Modi said that it's important to amplify vaccination. India's inoculation drive had started on January 16.
Local administration are imposing curbs; Delhi's week-long lockdown begins tonight
Though PM Modi hasn't yet imposed countrywide restrictions, local authorities have been levying curbs to handle the situation. On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government announced a lockdown until next Monday, April 26. The curbs will be enforced from 10 pm today. The new restrictions came days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal imposed a weekend curfew in Delhi.
