AP Governor participates in PM’s review meeting on Covid-19

Vijayawada, April 14 (prajaamaravathi): Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan participated in the review meeting on Covid-19 convened by Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi and chaired by Vice President Sri M. Venkaiah Naidu, with all Governors and Lt. Governors through video conference from Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. Addressing the Governors and Lt. Governors, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said the fight against Covid-19 is at a crucial stage and the country is facing a serious situation in front of it. The PM said the testing and treatment capacities have been increased many times more than the previous year and the country developed manufacturing capabilities in RT-PCR testing kits, PPE kits, Ventilators etc. through Atmanirbhar programme and these can be now procured through the GEM portal. The PM said the RT-PCR testing percentage should be increased and the positivity rate should be brought down to less than 5% and the vaccination programme should be speeded up on mission mode. He said that 11.11 crore people have been vaccinated so far and a new vaccine has also been given emergency use approval. Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said that the Governors can play an important role with the involvement of Red Cross volunteers, Ex-Servicemen, NCC, NSS, NGOs, youth associations in creating awareness among the people on Covid appropriate behavior such as maintaining social distance, wearing mask, vaccination etc. and curb spread of the virus. The Prime Minister also said that Governors should encourage use of AYUSH and traditional medicine in the treatment of the corona virus to the extent possible. Addressing the Governors, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that India succeeded in the fight against Covid-19 in the previous year and the same experience will be useful even now. He said the Governors should supplement the efforts of State governments by involving leaders of all political parties, religious leaders and build consensus and involve them in guiding the people in observing Covid appropriate behavior and following all Covid protocols as per guidelines. He said now we have the information and the infrastructure and what is needed is implementation. The Vice President said it is unfortunate that more than 50 percent people are not wearing masks and out of the remaining 64 percent do not wear the masks properly. He said Governors should mobilize education institutions, religious institutions, corporates, Red Cross, NCC, NSS, sportspersons, celebrities etc. and involve them in creating awareness among general public on Covid appropriate behavior. He said media houses have played an important role in spreading awareness on the virus during last year and their help should be taken in motivating people on the precautions to be taken to curb the spread of the virus. Governors of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have spoken during the video conference and shared their experiences and the measures taken to curb spread of the virus in their respective States. Union Home Minister Sri Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Sri Raj Nath Singh, Union Health Minister Sri Harsh Vardhan and senior officers of Government of India have attended the conference.