Declare national medical emergency, outfit tells PM

Coimbatore: The Puthiya Tamilagam has demanded prime minister Narendra Modi to declare national medical emergency to control the virus spread and make the country Covid-19 free.
In a letter to Modi, party Dr K Krishnasamy said millions of people were expecting the country to recover from the pandemic situation and return to the normalcy by April this year. “But Covid-19 cases are peaking across the country. There is a widespread apprehension that the second wave would be followed by the third and fourth waves. Last year, our country stood stall, extending a helping hand to other countries. Today, we have to bow our heads in the international arena in anticipation of supply of oxygen, ventilators, vaccines and other medical appliances.”
Pointing out that countries such as the USA, UK, Italy and other western countries were using their own vaccines for their citizens, he said India, with a population of 140 crore, was struggling to provide the first dose of vaccine to the citizens. He said the virus spread cannot be controlled by panchayats, municipalities, corporations or state governments. “The Union government should use its full power to protect the people. I urge the Centre to take a serious view of the situation and consider the second wave as a national disaster. To contain the Covid spread, declare a national medical emergency, which should be in force until we win the fight against the contagion.”