Step up activities in a calibrated way, CMs will probably tell PM Modi today

The fifth meeting called by the Prime Minister will give all CMs the opportunity to share their opinion (Archive)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with the top ministers of all states. via video conference on Monday to discuss the way forward in the battle against the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19). In a meeting on Sunday that set the stage for Monday’s discussions, the state’s top secretaries called for a calibrated meeting intensification of economic activities in a video conference with the cabinet secretary.

“We understand that each prime minister encourages gradual relaxation. They want more liberalization in the next version of the guidelines … this will be a consultation process, “a senior government official who is part of the Covid-19 response team told The Indian Express. As for further relaxation For industries, official sources said that the first week of the third phase of closure has revealed certain aspects on which states must intensify their administration.

Unlike previous meetings where only selected CMs were shortlisted to speak, the fifth meeting called by the Prime Minister will give all CMs the opportunity to share their opinion. Home and health ministers, secretaries of these departments, chief secretaries, and chief police officers (DGP) from all states will also be present along with the CMs at the meeting.

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“Although industrial activities have been allowed in the Orange and Green zones (which together represented 603 districts of the total 733 districts as of May 1), there has not been much activity, probably due to the lack of availability of labor and Disruption of supply chains These need to be repaired. States must discuss with industry and other stakeholders to carry out industrial activity in a sustainable manner in these districts, “said an official who highlighted the initial problems in taking advantage of the relaxations.

According to the health ministry, 216 districts have reported no cases as of May 8. While 42 districts did not show any new cases in the last 28 days, 29 districts did not have new cases in the last 21 days, 36 districts did not report new cases Cases in the last 14 days, and 46 districts did not show new cases in the last 28 days 7 days, until May 8. These numbers are dynamic and subject to daily change.

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Police on duty as few stores were opened in Delhi’s Khan market area. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

However, the central government is still not determined to lift the blockade entirely. Citing cases of overcrowding when some states opened liquor stores, an official said: “Sometimes, it is not the virus as much as community compliance that is a problem. This sounds alarm bells for compliance with social distancing rules when the blockade is fully lifted, “the official said, underscoring the government’s cautious approach. It is highly unlikely that shopping malls, movie theaters and restaurants will be opened or allow meetings such as weddings and political gatherings, for an extended period.

Officials noted that 10 states representing 97 percent of all cases would continue to be the focus of Covid’s response efforts at the central level. Of these, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, who witnessed a greater number of cases since the blockade was liberalized on May 4, and today represent almost two thirds of all cases, will be closely monitored and cared for, they said.

At the meeting with the state’s chief secretaries and health secretaries, input was sought on the ground for a new zoning of the districts before the end of the third phase of closure on May 17. The 48th day of closing is Monday, with relaxation announced So far, the resumption of economic activities has not yet had a significant impact. States were also asked to strengthen quarantine regulations, particularly with reports of migrants in some states leaving quarantine centers complaining of poor facilities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 128 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest so far in one day, with a total of 2,109. With 3,277 new cases in the past 24 hours, the total number of cases now stands at 62,939. So far, 19,357 people have been cured, of which 1,511 patients have been cured in the past 24 hours. This brings the recovery rate to 30.76 percent.

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At the Okhla market in Delhi

The increasing number of deaths has become a cause for concern. In a statement, the health ministry said there are currently 7,740 facilities in 483 districts in all states / UT, including hospitals and facilities of the state / UT and the central government. There are 6,56,769 isolation beds, 3,05,567 beds for confirmed cases, 3,51,204 beds for suspected cases, 99,492 beds with oxygen, 1,696 facilities with oxygen collector and 34,076 beds in ICU.

To increase the number of tests, the Cobas 6800 testing machine has now been installed at the National Center for Disease Control, which supports testing for Delhi, NCR, Ladakh, J&K, and several other states. The testing capacity at NCDC is approximately 300-350 tests per day now, and with Cobas 6800, a high performance machine capable of testing around 1,200 samples in 24 hours, the testing capacity for Covid-19 at NCDC will increase significantly.

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