Amid an alarming spike in the coronavirus cases in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, April 11, held a meeting with the members of the task force on the COVID-19 situation.
The CM discussed setting up oxygen generation plants, upgrading the number of beds and other medical facilities, besides the availability of Remdesivir injections.
The meeting, which was held virtually, aimed at deliberating the need for another statewide lockdown. Dr Pradeep Vyas, Dr TP Lahane, Dr Sanjay Oak, Dr Avinash Supe, Dr Shashank Joshi and Dr Rahul Pandit were among members of the task force present in the meeting.
The CM said asymptomatic people are spreading coronavirus among the rest. Hence, he once again underlined the need to break the coronavirus transmission chain by imposing a lockdown and said a standard operating procedure (SoP) will be prepared after holding consultations.
Thackeray said he will once again request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Maharashtra.
He also called for expediting the vaccination process and completing vaccination of all health workers in the state, the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement.
Thackeray stressed that strict restrictions are needed for some time in the state.
The meeting also discussed how to stop the 'irrational use' of Remdesivir drug, which is in high demand for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The task force members observed that 95 per cent of the patients can get proper treatment in-home quarantine and that only serious patients should get hospital beds in the state, the statement said. The members suggested that housing societies set up isolation rooms with oxygen concentrators temporarily.
According to sources, CM Uddhav Thackeray was in favour of an 8-day lockdown while the task force suggested that the same should be imposed for at least 14 days.
Experts also suggested management of hospital beds by local bodies and that doctors take a call on admitting patients in hospitals after making patients take a six-minute walk test.
They also suggested proper management of oxygen and a heavy penalty for the people not wearing a face mask in public.
Experts also suggested that third-year MBBS and AYUSH doctors be asked to join the COVID duty.
On Saturday, the state conducted a total of 2.6 lakh tests including one lakh antigen tests. Currently, 75 per cent of the total 20,250 ICU beds and 40 per cent of the 67,000 oxygen beds remained occupied in Maharashtra. No beds are available for patients in 11 to 12 districts, the meeting was told. In Nandurbar, a railway bogie has been converted into an isolation facility.
He went on to say that a final call in this regard could also be taken during a meeting of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Monday, April 12.
Share
Tweet
