PM’s principal secretary reviews preparedness as numbers rise

NEW DELHI: Amid rapidly increasing number of daily Covid-19 cases, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, P K Mishra on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to comprehensively review the Covid-19 preparedness and response.
The meeting focused on evidence-based learning on management of cases across the districts and states. The meeting also discussed the stage of vaccine development and vaccine distribution plan.
The need for District Health Action Plans for long term management of various aspects of Covid was discussed at the meeting with Mishra emphasising on long term national level Covid action plan.
The meeting was attended by cabinet secretary Rajeev Gauba, Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul, principal scientific adviser and all Covid Empowered Action Group Conveners and secretaries of departments concerned. The Centre also stressed on active participation of districts and states.
Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan briefed the meeting about ongoing strategic interventions in the five high burden states. He highlighted the status of states in terms of case trajectory, testing conducted, fatality and sample positivity mentioning the districts of concern.
Based on the many projected scenarios, the principal secretary directed all concerned to build on the knowledge and analysis that has been developed over the last few months to work out the detailed action plan for the coming months.