Bengaluru. Jan 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed to make all the preparations to tackle the third of COVID-19 based on the experience of the first and second waves, as the pandemic is expected to peak in February.
In a press statement issued after taking part in a video conference held by PM Modi with Chief Ministers of various states on Thursday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the PM advised to make use of the experience gained in handling the previous two waves of the pandemic. “During the third wave over 94% infected are in home isolation. Therefore the PM wanted to give priority to ensuring the supply of medicines, appropriate care, and measures to instill a sense of confidence among the infected,” Bommai stated.
He added that the union government has suggested ramping up testing, purchase of ambulances, and improving medical infrastructure under the Rs. 32,000 crore package it had provided for states after the second wave to raise the health infrastructure. “Many states have so far not utilised it. States must also need to chip with their own share of resources to improve the health infrastructure like ICU, oxygenated plants, and purchase ambulances to make the best use of the project,” Bommai stated.
He further said PM Modi had appreciated the 5T plan (Testing, Tracking, Tracing, Triaging and Technology) adopted by the state government to contain COVID-19 and praised the use of technology for monitoring the health of those in home isolation. “I have explained the measures taken by the state government to control and manage the pandemic in the state. The Prime Minister appreciated the high rate of testing and vaccination in the state, which is higher than the national average,” Bommai stated.
He added that the PM was also apprised of the measures initiated to ramp up the medical infrastructure in the state and he had sought central assistance to raise the oxygenated beds and oxygen plants.
