Omicron infecting people several times faster: PM Modi at meet with CMs on Covid-19
Premium- In addition to fighting Omicron, we also need to be ready for any future variants of this virus, the Prime Minister said
At an interaction with the chief ministers of all states on the coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that an initial skepticism about Omicron is slowly getting cleared.
The new strain Omicron is infecting people several times faster than previous ones, PM Modi said. He added, “In addition to fighting Omicron, we also need to be ready for any future variants of this virus."
Stressing that it's very important to safeguard economy and livelihood of common people while framing Covid-19 strategies, the PM said, “Focus must on local containment."
The Prime Minister added that Covid-19 vaccination is biggest weapon against the pandemic. “We need to further accelerate 'Har Ghar Dastak' programme to reach 100% vaccination coverage," he noted.
PM Modi further said, “Sooner we give precautionary dose to frontline workers and senior citizens, stronger our healthcare system will become."
The interaction was being held in the wake of a steep rise in coronavirus cases due to its Omicron variant. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Mansukh Mandaviya also attended the meeting.
Fresh curbs have been imposed in various parts of the country to check the spread of the highly transmissible virus.
The Prime Minister had chaired a meeting to review the coronavirus scenario in the country on 9 January through a video conference.
Reviewing the Covid situation, PM Modi had called for ensuring adequate health infrastructure at the district level and accelerating the vaccination drive for adolescents in mission mode.
The precaution vaccination drive for healthcare and frontline workers, besides those over 60 years of age with comorbidities, the PM had stated.
Covid-19 vaccination remains among the most effective means to fight Covid, Modi had said.
The prime minister had said that a meeting with the chief ministers be convened to discuss state-specific scenarios, best practices and the public health response.
Meanwhile, India clocked 2,47,417 new Covid-19 cases in a span of 24 hours. The new infections reported today are about 27% higher than compared to yesterday's figures. On Wednesday, the country had seen 1,94,720 new cases.
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