PM warns of "emerging second peak" of Covid; urges states to step up measures

NEW DELHI: In a virtual meet with Chief Ministers of all states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it was necessary to stop the 'emerging second wave' of the coronavirus.

He urged the state governments to step up measures including ramping up of vaccination drive, increasing RT-PCR testing and maintaining the Covid-19 protocols to put a halt to the surging cases.

In the meeting, it was informed that 70 districts in the country had seen an increase in the positivity rate by over 150 per cent recently.

While addressing the Chief Ministers, PM Modi said, "If we don't stop this right now, then there could be a situation of a nationwide outbreak. We have to immediately stop the emerging second peak and take big and decisive steps."

The PM stressed on the need to develop micro containment zones and adopt a strategy on the basis of "test, track and treat" and implement the same pro-actively.

Referring to the states of Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said that over 70 per cent of the tests should be done by RTPCR rather than relying on Rapid Antigen Tests.

He expressed concern about the high positivity rate in Maharashtra and MP and rising cases in Punjab and Maharashtra. While urging to stop this emerging "second peak" of Corona immediately he warned, "if we do not stop this growing pandemic now, then a country-wide outbreak can occur."

He further stressed that the public should not be brought to panic mode and at the same time also get rid of trouble.

Modi while speaking about the vaccination drive also cautioned against the waste of vaccines in some states and advised them to use the shot available to them before the expiry date and avoid waste.

As per the Ministry of Health, India today recorded 28,903 fresh COVID-19 cases since yesterday.

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