Covid-19 pandemic is far from over: Modi
Amid rising Covid cases in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday directed officials to conduct regular mock drills at hospitals, enhance whole genome sequencing in positive samples, and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour.
He stressed the pandemic was far from over and there was a need to monitor the status across the country on a regular basis. It was the first Covid-related meeting held by the PM this year.
The high-level meeting, chaired by the PM, came against the backdrop of a spike in influenza as well as Covid-19 cases in the past two weeks.
Covid-19 cases have risen to their highest level in around four months. From fewer than 200 across India at the end of February, India reported 1,134 cases on March 21. The daily positivity rate has crossed 1 per cent. India’s active caseload currently stands at 7,026.
According to the government data, India has been witnessing a rise in new cases with a daily average of 888 and saw a weekly positivity rate of 0.98 per cent for the week ended March 22.
Modi emphasised Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks on hospital premises by all concerned — patients, health professionals, and health workers. He also said wearing masks was advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visited crowded areas.