PM Modi reviews COVID situation, takes stock of oxygen availability, medicines, health infrastructure

April 28, 2021

Amid spiralling cases of coronavirus in the county, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with top officials to review the present situation in the country.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the COVID-19 situation in the country relating to oxygen availability, medicines, health infrastructure, etc.
The Empowered Group working on boosting oxygen supply informed the Prime Minister about the efforts being made to ramp up the availability and supply of oxygen in the country.
They also informed the Prime Minister about increasing allocation of oxygen to states. It was discussed that the production of liquid medical oxygen in the country has increased from 5700 MT/day in August 2020 to the present 8922 MT (on 25th April 2021).
The domestic production of liquid medical oxygen is expected to cross 9250 MT/day by the end of April 2021.
The Prime Minister instructed the officials to work closely with state governments to start the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plants at the earliest. Officers also apprised PM Modi that they are encouraging states to also set up PSA oxygen plants.
PM Modi was briefed about the functioning of the Oxygen Express Railways Service as well as the domestic sorties and international sorties undertaken by IAF to transport oxygen tankers.

The Empowered Group working on medical infrastructure and COVID management briefed the PM on efforts being undertaken to ramp up the availability of beds and ICUs. They informed the Prime Minister about the efforts being taken to break the chain of transmission.
PM Modi stressed on the need to ensure that specific guidelines and strategies evolved regarding COVID management are properly implemented by the relevant agencies in the states.
The Empowered Group working on communication informed PM Modi on the efforts being undertaken to improve awareness among people on COVID-related behaviour.
Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary RT&H, Secretary I&B, Secretary Pharmaceuticals, Member NITI Aayog, DG ICMR, Secretary Biotechnology and other senior officers were present in the meeting.