Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked officials to step up testing in areas reporting high test positivity rates, with a focus on door-to-door testing in rural parts of the country which were facing the brunt of the pandemic.
Amid allegations of suppression of actual Covid-19 data, the Prime Minister also asked state governments to report their pandemic numbers transparently without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts.
At a meeting with top officials to review the Covid-19 situation, Modi also directed officials to work closely with states to ramp up the speed of vaccination.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister about the increase in testing for Covid-19 from 50 lakhs tests per week in early March to around 1.3 crore tests per week now.
They also apprised the Prime Minister about the gradually decreasing test positivity rate and increasing recovery rate.
Modi stressed localised containment strategies, particularly in districts reporting high test positivity rates.
“The Prime Minister instructed that testing needs to be scaled up further, with use of both RT-PCR and Rapid Tests, especially in areas with high test positivity rates,” a statement from the PMO said.
He also asked officials for augmentation of healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door-to-door testing and surveillance and empowering ASHA and Anganwadi workers with all necessary tools.
Modi also asked officials to make available guidelines on home isolation and treatment in simpler terms along with illustrations in the rural areas.
The Prime Minister directed that a distribution plan for ensuring oxygen supply in rural areas should be worked out, including through provision of Oxygen Concentrators.
Necessary training should be provided to health workers to operate such equipment, and power supply should be ensured for smooth functioning of such medical devices, he said.
Taking serious note of some reports about ventilators lying unutilised in some states, the Prime Minister directed officials for an immediate audit of such devices provided by the Central Government.
He also asked officials to ensure refresher training to health workers for proper handling of ventilators.
The Prime Minister said India’s fight against Covid has been guided throughout by scientists and subject experts and will continue being guided by them.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister about the vaccination process and the state-wise coverage of the 45 plus population and discussed the roadmap for future vaccine availability.
The Prime Minister directed officials to work closely with states to ramp up the speed of vaccination.
(With inputs from PTI)