Amid rising cases of coronavirus Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers of seven states with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country.
These states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. More than 63 per of the active cases in the country are concentrated in these seven states, according to the Ministry of Health.
In a review meeting with chief ministers and representatives of seven states with a high number of cases, Modi said “micro containment zones” should be the way forward as it will curb the infection spread and also allow activities to go on.
Discussion with CMs on the COVID-19 situation. https://t.co/pKY8n2MeYN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020
‘Need to increase focus on effective testing, tracking’
He asked states to further enhance their focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging to curb the pandemic.
प्रभावी टेस्टिंग,
ट्रेसिंग,
ट्रीटमेंट,
सर्विलांस और
स्पष्ट मैसेजिंग, इसी पर हमें अपना फोकस और बढ़ाना होगा: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 23, 2020
Noting that most of the Covid-19 patients are asymptomatic, Modi said an effective messaging is all the more important as rumours often get spread and the common man wonders if the testing is wrong.
Some people even make the mistake of undermining the seriousness of the disease, he said, while pitching for the need for an effective messaging.
The prime minister said it has to be ensured that medicines move unhindered from one state to another and noted that India has also been able to supply medicines across the world during such hard times.
भारत ने मुश्किल समय में भी पूरे विश्व में जीवन रक्षक दवाओं की आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित की है।
ऐसे में एक राज्य से दूसरे राज्य के बीच दवाइयां आसानी से पहुंचे, हमें मिलकर ही ये देखना होगा: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 23, 2020
During the meeting,CM Captain Amarinder Singh urged PM Modi to direct urgent steps to ensure adequate supplies from other states & also sought expeditious release of Rs 200 crore that state govt had requested as next tranche of central aid for Covid management.
PM Modi also annonced increasing the cap on the amount they can spend from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
“Today, I announce that the states can spend 50 per cent of the SDRF amount on efforts to check the spread of Covid-19. This limit was earlier 35 per cent,” PM Modi said.
The PM also stressed on wearing masks, saying though it is difficult to make wearing masks a habit, getting desirable results will become hard if people don’t make it a part of their daily life.
