Cases spreading in Tier 2 & 3 cities, need decisive steps to prevent second wave: PM Modi to CMs

NEW DELHI: The rise in Covid cases in some states could lead to a national outbreak of the disease and quick and decisive steps are needed to prevent an emerging second wave of the infection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers on Wednesday.
In a virtual interaction, the PM said the disease seemed to be spreading in Tier II and III cities, in areas that were till now safe from the infection, and this could potentially put villages at risk.
He said controlling the disease in villages would pose a serious challenge to the health infrastructure.

Referring to use of vaccines, Modi said all efforts should be made to ensure minimum wastage and referred to a couple of states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where more than 10% of the shots were going waste. He said this meant people needing the shots were being deprived. "Set the goal of zero wastage," he said.

He urged the chief ministers to act in a manner that does not create panic, noting that India has done well in combating the pandemic with a recovery rate of 96% and a low fatality rate. He said India's response to the pandemic was being praised but also said there was no room for slackness given that vaccination would help but was not the only solution. "It’s the same with any disease. If you have been treated for a cold, you will still use warm clothes."
The PM urged the states to stress on micro containment zones, scaling up of RT-PCR tests and mass vaccinations to halt a country-wide outbreak once again.

According to an official release, the chief ministers agreed on the requirement of greater vigilance and monitoring of the situation. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh is understood to have said that the state is planning more stringent measures to control the infection. Modi pointed to the high rates of infection in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and stressed the need to track and trace patients and maintain a high level of testing.
Though 100% vaccination is not aimed for, and there are chances of infection if immunity remains undeveloped after both doses of the vaccine, the administration should continue to build confidence in the community through effective communication as the shots are a potent weapon, the Prime Minister said.

"Many districts considered safe zones are reporting cases. If we do not stop this pandemic here, it may lead to a nationwide outbreak," he said.
"We need to identify mutants of coronavirus and assess their effects," the PM said while urging CMs to send new samples for genome sequencing. He lauded the increased pace of vaccination but warned states to "take the problem of vaccine wastage very seriously" while seeking correction of drawbacks on planning and governance at the local level to reduce wastage.
"We don’t have to bring the public under panic mode… With some initiatives and safeguards we have to take people out of this problem," he said. While emphasising on scaling up RT-PCR rates to more than 70% of all tests, he said some states like Kerala, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have been doing more rapid antigen tests.