Need to increase focus on testing, tracing, treatment & surveillance, says PM Modi in Covid-19 review meet with CMs

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting with chief ministers of 7 states and Union Territories that have the highest number of coronavirus cases in India.

In the meeting, PM Modi announced that states can use 50% of the State Disaster Relief Fund to rein in the pandemic. The earlier limit was 35%.

Chairing a high level virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of six COVID high burden States and Union Territory of Delhi, PM Modi said, the funds have been increased for states to tackle covid situation.

He reviewed the status and preparedness of COVID response and management. More than 63 per cent of the active cases of the country are concentrated in these six States and a Union Territory.

These states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. The states also account for 65.5 per cent of the total cases and 77 per cent of the total deaths.

He also appreciated the efforts being made by the states to check the spread of the disease.

India has ensured the supply of life-saving medicines all over the world even in difficult times. We have to work together to see that the medicines easily reach from one state to another: PM Modi during a meeting with CMs of 7 states

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2020

“Today, I announce that the states can spend 50 per cent of the SDRF amount on efforts to check the spread of Covid-19. This limit was earlier 35 per cent,” PM Modi said.

“We need to increase our focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging,” said PM Modi.

“Effective messaging is also necessary because most Covid-19 infections are without symptoms. In such a situation, rumours may rise. It might raise doubts in the minds of the people that testing is bad. Some people also make mistake of underestimating the severity of infection,” he added.

#WATCH It is difficult to make wearing masks a habit, but we will not be able to get the desired results if we don't make it a part of our daily life, says PM Modi in a meeting with Chief Ministers of seven states pic.twitter.com/V9m7KAzRgG

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2020

During the high-level meet with CMs and health ministers of seven states and union territories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the importance of wearing masks.

The Prime Minister said that India has said that India has ensured the supply of life-saving medicines all over the world even in difficult times.

“We have to work together to see that the medicines easily reach from one state to another,” he further said.