Identify districts with high positivity rates and act: Modi to states

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 May coducted a comprehensive review of the COVID-19 situation in the country and directed states to identify districts with high positivity rates.

The Prime Minister said states should be given help and guidance to ramp up healthcare infrastructure and noted that an advisory was sent to the states to identify districts of concern where the positivity rate was 10% or more and bed occupancy, either oxygen-supported or ICU beds, was more than 60%. Mr. Modi also reviewed the availability of medicines. He was briefed about the rapid augmenting of production of medicines, including Remdesivir.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was informed about the 12 states which have more than one lakh active cases. He was also apprised about the districts with a high number of cases and the ramping up of healthcare infrastructure by the states.

The PM reviewed the progress of the vaccination programme and the roadmap for scaling up production on vaccines in the next few months. He was informed that around 17.7 crore vaccines have been supplied to the states.

Mr. Modi also reviewed the state-wise trends on vaccine wastage. He was informed that around 31% of the eligible population over the age of 45 has been given at least one dose. The Prime Minister said citizens should be vaccinated despite lockdowns and added that healthcare workers involved in vaccination must not be diverted for other duties.