Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual Covid review meeting with chief ministers of states as the country goes through the second wave of coronavirus, with daily cases exceeding one lakh mark.
Addressing the nation after the covid review meeting with CMs, PM Modi said, “A challenging situation is emerging again. I request you all to give your suggestions to tackle the COVID-19 situation.”
The Prime Minister said that last year when the country started reporting coronavirus cases, the nation was not prepared on how to tackle it, therefore, a lockdown was imposed to get the arrangement done such as manufacturing of masks, ventilators, preparing the hospitals to fight the pandemic but today we have all the arrangements, infrastructure, so there is a need to make micro-containment zones.
The Prime Minister also asked states to focus on testing and ensuring that people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour rather than relying on vaccines.
During the meet, the Prime Minister said that both the people and administration in several states and UTs have become “complacent”, adding that there is a “need to work on war footing” again to fight the infection. He, however, asked states and UTs not to be afraid of rising numbers and keep testing people.
“We need to fight the second surge in cases. Many states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab have crossed first wave of peak in COVID-19 cases. This is a serious concern,” PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“Today, the problem is that we have forgotten about Covid-19 testing and have moved to vaccination. We have to remember that we had won the fight against Covid-19 without a vaccine. We have to emphasise on testing,” PM Modi told the chief ministers.
The Prime Minister’s reference to supply constraints come against the backdrop of concerns expressed by vaccine manufacturers.
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Tuesday that his company, which is making the Covishield vaccine (over 90% of all doses given in India till now are of this), “was very outstretched”.
