PM Modi meets with chief ministers of some of the most affected states today
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the second of his two-part video consultation with various chief ministers on the coronavirus crisis, stressing the need to increase screening rates and simultaneously strengthen existing health infrastructure, as well as offering support to people facing discrimination, as they have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The Prime Minister, who will interact with some of the most affected states and plan the way forward after the current lockdown phase ends on June 30, also highlighted the increased recovery rates – the number of people who have fought the virus – as a sign that the viral epidemic was contained.
“We need to strengthen the health infrastructure in order to be able to treat each infected patient. The recovery rate is increasing but it is also important to focus on increasing tests so that we can quickly isolate the infected people and treat them” , did he declare.
There are more than 900 COVID-19 laboratories across the country, said the Prime Minister, adding that there were “millions of special COVID beds, thousands of quarantine and isolation centers and adequate oxygen supplies. “
“There is also an emotional aspect to this fight. We must also make efforts to help people overcome the stigma born out of fear of infection. The number of people who have recovered is very high and is increasing rapidly. Therefore, if someone has a coronavirus, they don’t need to panic, “added the Prime Minister.
However, the increase in recovery rates – to 52.79% Wednesday evening, according to the Ministry of Health – comes against a backdrop of worrying new infections.
India has reported 10,794 new cases in the past 24 hours, the ministry said this morning, raising the total number to over 3.5 lakh. It is the sixth consecutive day in which more than 10,000 cases have been reported.
The outbreak of cases was particularly high in the national capital Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai. Delhi reported nearly 45,000 cases and Mumbai more than 60,000.
The PM admitted that the spread of the virus was uneven.
“In some cities, overcrowding, lack of physical distance, the displacement of thousands of people every day … this has made fighting the coronavirus more difficult,” he said.
The Prime Minister also reminded people to wear masks outside and to frequently use hand sanitizers to prevent infections.
Praising states for their role in controlling the virus, the prime minister said that the “discipline displayed by locals during the foreclosure”, which came into effect in March, had prevented the virus from growing exponentially.
On Tuesday, PM met with the leaders of 20 states to discuss the situation of COVID-19 and the way forward. He said that even if economic activity resumes with the lifting of the foreclosure restrictions, the pace of recovery will depend on the spread of the infection.
He hailed the fight against the virus as the best example of cooperative federalism. “
India has so far reported more than 3.54 lakh cases of COVID-19, with 11,903 virus-related deaths. It is the fourth most affected country in the world, with only the United States, Brazil and Russia being worse off.
