New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting through video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of the following states – Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Maharashtra on Tuesday.
This meeting was specifically held to share concerns over the current pandemic situations of the above-mentioned states and share priorities to prevent the infection.
As India’s COVID-19 caseload has gone past 91 lakh with 37,975 coronavirus infections being reported in a day, and many countries witnessing the second wave of the pandemic. This meeting becomes the utmost importance to strategize as per the individual state requires to curb the next wave in the region.
The conference was attended by leaders included home minister Amit Shah, health minister Harsh Vardhan, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani.
During the meeting, Delhi CM Kejriwal told PM Modi that the national capital saw a peak of 8,600 COVID-19 cases on November 10. Positive cases are since then decreasing. “We hope this trend continues,” he said.
Kejriwal has also sought reservation of additional 1,000 ICU beds in central govt hospitals till third wave lasts.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray informed PM Narendra Modi that he is in constant touch with Adar Poonawalla of Serum Institute and that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of vaccine and executing the vaccination programme.
After having chaired several meetings with chief ministers from different states throughout the past six months, PM Modi has already sent high-level teams to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, to support the states in COVID-19 management and to help them taking safety measures to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
According to the Union Health Ministry, these expert teams have been sent to the states which have been either demonstrating a rise through new cases on a regular basis or states reporting a rise in the number of active cases (i.e. who are hospitalized or in-home isolation under medical supervision).
—- Seraj