New Delhi, April 19 (). Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra on Wednesday held a review meeting to monitor the preparedness level and public health response amid rising cases of coronavirus across the country.
According to sources with knowledge of the matter, Mishra advised officials to ensure operational readiness of hospital infrastructure up to the sub-district level.
He also highlighted the need to regularly monitor the COVID-19 situation and update the advisories to guide the states. Mishra also called upon the people to continue with the ongoing time-tested strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and follow Covid appropriate behaviour.
During the meeting, a presentation was made by Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, where he provided an overview of the global COVID-19 situation. He highlighted that India is witnessing a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases with majority of cases in eight states, Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
The Health Secretary further said that the States have already been advised that they may take steps to procure the required doses of the Covid vaccine directly from the manufacturers at their end without any prior approval from the Union Health Ministry. It was informed during the meeting that private hospitals of the states can also buy such vaccines directly from the manufacturer.
These purchased vaccines can be administered as per the existing Covid vaccination guidelines.
KC/ANM
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