On Monday, the Centre said that India has enough medical oxygen available but the challenge is to transport it to hospitals, amid the shortage faced by COVID-19 patients.

Addressing a press conference, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Piyush Goyal said, "Absolutely no need to panic for oxygen as we are trying to resolve the issue of its transportation. India is ordering oxygen tankers from abroad on a purchase or hiring basis. The transportation of oxygen tankers is a major challenge."

He further said that the Govt is monitoring oxygen-carrying tankers on a real-time basis through GPS and making them available to hospitals as early as possible.

'It's time people start wearing masks inside homes'
The Govt said it's time people begin wearing masks inside their homes as well as the 2nd wave of COVID-19 has hit the country. It also appealed to people not to panic over the current COVID-19 situation, saying “unnecessary panic causing more harm than good.”

Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog said that "In this COVID19 situation, please don't go out unnecessarily, & even within the family wear a mask. It is very important to wear a mask. Do not invite people into your home. We cannot let the pace of COVID19 vaccination decline in the face of the emerging situation. In fact, vaccination should be escalated".

He also said that women can take the COVID-19 vaccine during menstruation.

'Many occupying hospital beds out of panic'
The Centre also noted that many people found to be occupying hospital beds out of panic, & urged them to take admission only on doctors' advice. 

The Govt further underscored that rational use of oxygen & appropriate prescription of drugs such as Remdesivir and Tocilizumab are critical in the fight against the pandemic. It also asked hospitals for judicious use of oxygen & to plug leakage, if any.

The Centre said that research has shown if no physical distancing measures are followed, one person can infect 406 people in 30 days. It also said that if physical exposure is reduced by 50 per cent then one person can infect around 15 people during the period and, if physical exposure is reduced by 75 per cent, then one person can infect around 2.5 people in 30 days.

It further said that 8 states, including Maharashtra, have more than 1 lakh active cases of coronavirus. The states with more than 1 lakh active cases are - Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat & Tamil Nadu. 

Source Link

Picture Source :