2nd wave not over, protocol must, states told; PM reviews medical oxygen supply

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 9

A baseline of 10,000 daily Covid cases for three weeks would define some kind of decline in the ongoing second wave, the Health Ministry said on Friday, warning people against “unsafe Covid behaviour” as seen in pictures emerging from tourist spots across India.

14 Zika virus cases in Kerala

The Union Government has rushed a six-member team of experts to Kerala where 14 cases of Zika virus infection have been reported. The infection was first detected in a young pregnant woman on Thursday with the ICMR-National Institute of Virology confirming 13 cases on Friday. The infection mostly spreads by the bite of an infected mosquito. It can even cause birth defects.

Symptoms Fever | Rash | Headache | Joint pain | Red eyes | Muscle pain

India saw 43,393 daily cases today and over 40,000 cases for the third day, with Maharashtra and Kerala accounting for 53 per cent of the new infections over the past week.

The Centre’s warning came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the efforts to install over 1,500 pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plants across the country, which would support four lakh oxygenated beds. The plants were contributed by PM Cares Fund. The details of medical oxygen preparedness were discussed at a review meeting chaired by the PM, who instructed officials to ensure that the plants became functional at the earliest and adequately trained hospital staff were put in charge of their operation and maintenance. He said advanced technology should be deployed to track performance and functioning of oxygen plants. Officials said a pilot project was being conducted using the tracking technology for monitoring the performance of the oxygen plants and would be scaled up once outcomes are known.

The meeting assessed the availability of medical oxygen amid a probable third wave with the government’s second wave arrangements found woefully wanting, leading to deaths of several patients for want of the life-saving gas.

The officials said PSA oxygen plants contributed by PM Cares were coming up in all districts. A government statement said the PM had instructed close engagement with states to ensure adequate installed capacity of medical oxygen.

Officials said they were working with the state governments to fast-track the installation of plants. The government is targeting training of 8,000 persons to operate and maintain oxygen plants across India.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to PM PK Mishra, Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba, Secretary (Health) Rajesh Bhushan and Secretary (Urban Development) Durga Shanker Mishra.