Focus on containment, Cabinet Secy to states with high viral load

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has asked states with a high number of coronavirus cases to work on effectively implementing the lockdown guidelines. He also said that the states need to focus on medical infrastructure which includes adequate availability of isolation beds, ICU beds, ventilators etc.

New Delhi: Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Sunday asked states with high load of Covid-19 cases to focus on effective implementation of lockdown measures and containment strategy.

The Cabinet Secretary gave the directions in a video conference with all the Chief Secretaries and Director General of Police of the states and Union Territories and also asked them to review the preparedness for Covid-19 response.

He also said that the states need to focus on medical infrastructure which includes adequate availability of isolation beds, ICU beds, ventilators etc.

Meanwhile, the government said that through a graded, pre-emptive, and proactive approach, it is taking several steps along with the states and UTs for prevention, containment, and management of the viral disease.

"These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level," it added in a statement.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also asserted that the situation is improving in the country as Hot Spot Districts (HSD) are becoming Non-Hot Spot Districts (NHSD).

The comments came against the backdrop of his visit to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in a bid to take stock of preparedness to overcome the viral disease.

Harsh Vardhan has urged the people to observe the lockdown 2.0 in letter and spirit and to treat it as an effective intervention to cut down the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry stated that as of now, 5,804 people have been cured with a recovery rate of 21.90 per cent. Also, a total of 26,496 people have been confirmed positive for Covid-19 with a total number of 824 deaths have been reported in India as of now.