PATNA: The state government will take further steps to curb the Covid surge after considering the useful suggestions at the all-party meeting convened by governor Phagu Chauhan on Saturday, chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Friday. Nitish said if the people of Bihar working in other states were willing to return, his government would welcome them.
Another meeting with all the DMs is scheduled for Sunday, when an update on the ground situation will also be collected for carrying out follow-up steps in tune with the specific situation prevailing in the districts, the CM said, adding that the people should abide by the protocols like wearing of masks, washing hands with soap at regular intervals and maintaining social distance.
While talking to reporters after a high-level review meeting convened to get an update on the Covid situation, the CM expressed concern and said the number of coronavirus cases had continued to show increasing trend every day. He said the officials concerned had been asked to speed up vaccination for protection against the virus that is more virulent in its second wave of the spread compared to last year.
He directed the officials to take special precautionary steps in the areas from where the corona cases were being reported and take all necessary measures to check the virus spread.
The CM asked the officials to maintain the availability of medicines and oxygen cylinders in sufficient quantity at the hospitals so that patients did not face problems in their treatment. He also said the Covid-dedicated hospitals should be provided with all necessary support, like the increased number of beds and oxygen cylinders.
Earlier, health department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit presented an update on daily tests and positive cases as well as the number of active cases, recovery rate and district-wise situation. Deputy CMs Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Mangal Pandey, as well as development commissioner Amir Subhani, principal secretaries to CM, Deepak Kumar and Chanchal Kumar, and other officials attended the review meeting.