PM Modi appeals people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour especially in view of upcoming festive season

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 situation, preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, and the status of the vaccination campaign in the country.

PM Modi also reviewed the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and their public health implications.

This high-level review meeting comes in the backdrop of a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil.

In view of the upcoming festive season, the Prime Minister has urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded public places. 

He also urged that precautionary dose must be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.

Reiterating that Covid is not over yet, Mr Modi directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at International airports.

Prime Minister also emphasised to ensure that the entire Covid infrastructure at all levels is maintained at a high level of preparedness in terms of equipment, processes and human resources.

PM Modi advised States to audit Covid specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including Oxygen Cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources.

Prime Minister directed officials to ramp up testing and also genomic sequencing efforts and states have been asked to share a larger number of samples with the designated Genome Sequencing Laboratories for Genome Sequencing on a daily basis.

This will support timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate undertaking requisite public health measures.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur were among those attended the meeting.