PM calls for effective contact tracing, strengthening health infra amid Omicron scare

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PM calls for effective contact tracing, strengthening health infra amid Omicr...

PM calls for effective contact tracing, strengthening health infra amid Omicron scare

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing a high-level meeting to review the public health response measures for containing and managing Covid-19.

New Delhi, Dec 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing a high-level meeting to review the public health response measures for containing and managing Covid-19 and strengthening health infrastructure including availability of drugs and oxygen cylinders amid the growing Omicron scare, called for prompt and effective contact tracing, ramping up of testing, and accelerating vaccination.

He was briefed about the emerging scenario globally driven by the new variant, with an overview of surge in cases in countries having high vaccination coverage and presence of Omicron variant. He was also apprised of the technical brief and priority actions recommended by the WHO in the context.

A snapshot of the status of Covid-19 and its Omicron variant in the country, including states reporting a higher number of cases, districts reporting higher positivity, and higher number of clusters was presented to him. He was also briefed about the actions taken when the first advisory of the Health Ministry was shared with the states.

The PM directed the officials to maintain a high level of vigil and alertness at all levels. He directed the Centre to work in close coordination with the states to support their efforts of public health measures of containment and management under the 'Whole of Government' approach.

"The strategy of the Centre for proactive, focussed, collaborative and cooperative fight against the pandemic should guide all our future actions," he said.

"In view of the new variant, we should be 'satark' (alert) and 'saavdhan' (cautious). The fight against the pandemic is not over and the need for continued adherence to Covid safe behaviour is of paramount importance even today," he stressed.

The PM directed the officials to ensure that the health systems in the states, beginning from the district level, are strengthened to meet any challenge posed by the new variant. It is important for states to ensure that the oxygen supply equipments are installed and fully functional, he said.

He also told the officials to work with the states on a regular basis and review the status of preparedness of various components of health infrastructure including training and capacity building of human resources, timely availability of ambulances, readiness of states to operationalise Covid facilities for institutional quarantining, and effective and supervised monitoring of those in home isolation.

Heightened and close monitoring of emerging clusters and hotspots through and active, prompt and effective surveillance should continue, he stated. He directed for sending a good number of positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG labs in a prompt manner, while accelerating the testing to ensure quick identification of cases for timely containment and treatment.

The PM said that teams should be sent to the states with low vaccination, rising cases, and insufficient health infrastructure to assist them improve the situation.

Apprised that more than 88 per cent of the eligible population is administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and more than 60 per cent the second dose, he said that states need to ensure that the eligible population is fully vaccinated and to proceed to meet the target in a saturation mode.
(IANS)

Viral Video Shows Person Looking Like Kapil Dev Being Kidnapped; Gautam Gambhir Shares Clip

by Manoj Jena

Watch: Viral Video Of Person Looking Like Kapil Dev Being Kidnapped; Gautam Gambhir Shares Clip

New Delhi, Sept 26: The video of a person looking like former Indian Cricketer Kapil Dev getting kidnapped by goons is getting viral on social media platforms.

In the viral clip, some goons have tied the hands and mouth of the person and taking the victim inside a room.

The seven seconds clip was shared on the official X (formerly Tiwtter) handle of cricketer turned politician

Anyone else received this clip, too? Hope it’s not actually @therealkapildev 🤞and that Kapil Paaji is fine! pic.twitter.com/KsIV33Dbmp — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 25, 2023

Gautam Gambhir with the caption, 'Anyone else received this clip, too? Hope it’s not actually @therealkapildev and that Kapil Paaji is fine!'

Also Read: Viral Video: Man Smokes Beedi Inside Delhi Metro; Netizens React

After the clip surfaced on the internet, the comment section was filled with speculations as some commented that it was a sequence of a advertisenment shoot and some wrote, 'it might be a fake video.'

The post has garnered five Million views and still creating a sense of suspension among the netizens.

Watch the clip and share your views on this video.

Also Read: National News

IDBI Junior Assistant Manager Recruitment: Vacancies For PGDBF 2023-24; Apply Now

by Sabyasachi Kundu

New Delhi, Sept 26: The IDBI (Industrial Development Bank of India) has released the Junior Assistant Manager Recruitment notification to fill 600 vacancies.

According to the notification, the online application link has been made available for the candidates.

Key Dates:

Online Registration for submission of Online application: September 15, 2023 to September 30, 2023
Payment of Application Fee/ Intimation Charges – (Online mode only): September 15, 2023 to September 30, 2023
Tentative Date of Online Test: October 20, 2023

Educational Qualification:

Candidates should be Graduates from any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of India.
Passing only a diploma course will not be considered as qualifying the eligibility criteria.
Candidates are expected to have proficiency in computers.
Proficiency in the regional language will be preferred.

Refundable Application Fee and Postage Charges:

1. Rs 200 for SC/ST/PWD candidates (Only Intimation Charges)
2. Rs 1,000 for all others (Application Fees and Intimation Charges)

Click here for the official notification.

Odisha Assembly Adjourned Till 4 PM Amid Opposition Ruckus

by Utkalika Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Sep 26: Pandemonium continued to prevail on the third day of the monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly forcing Speaker Pramila Mallik to adjourn the House till 4 p.m on Tuesday.

Soon after the House met for the day, the Opposition parties indulged in sloganeering alleging rejection of questions on vital issues raised by party MLAs.

While the BJP members protested wearing black bands in the House, the ruling party members countered the opposition by raising the issue of MSP.

Speaker Pramila Mallik adjourned the proceedings of the House till 12 p.m. and called an all-party meeting to hold discussions for the smooth functioning of the Assembly, but to no avail.

The members engaged in ruckus when the House commenced again. It was later adjourned till 4 p.m. by the Speaker.

"Government is responsible for the washing away of the question hour. The question hour is in the interest of people of the state. Different organisations are staging protests at the lower PMG square over various important issues. Yesterday, many questions raised by the MLAs were rejected and today is no different. The state government is filtering the questions as per their convenience,” said BJP's Dhamnagar MLA, Suryabanshi Suraj.

BJP also accused that Congress party is trying to divert the issues by bringing a motion on another issue. Meanwhile, Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati refuted the allegations made by the BJP party.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. The opposition plays a significant role in the smooth functioning of the Assembly. The main opposition party members stalled the House again today. Question hour is the most important part of the proceedings where various problems of people from across the state are discussed through question and answer. They are stalling the House deliberately," said Prasanta Kumar Muduli, government chief whip.

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PM calls for effective contact tracing, strengthening health infra amid Omicron scare

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