With these fresh directions, Himachal Pradesh government has also issued fresh guidelines and restrictions in offices and public gatherings to check the spread of corona virus in the state from today (see photo).
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the precautionary dose for senior citizens(60 years and above) and the frontline health workers will be started from tomorrow and SMSs have been sent to over a crore people across the country.
Taking cognizance of surge in cases in the states, Prime Minister reviewed the Corona situation in the country at a high level meeting in New Delhi, which was attended by the Health and Home Ministers, experts of NITIAayog, health experts and officials and asked the states to accelerate vaccine drive for adolescents in a mission mode.
Prime Minister underscored the need for continuous scientific research on intervening vaccines and pharmacological interventions including genome sequencing given that virus is evolve continuously.
Prime Minister said the states must ensure continuity of non-covered health services and leverage telemedicine to ensure availability of health related guidance to people in remote and rural areas.
Prime Minister said he would soon convene a meeting with the Chief Ministers to discuss the state-specific scenarios, best practices and public health response.
He urged the states to continue Jan Andolan focusing on covid- appropriate behaviour which is crucial in our ongoing battle against corona in the country.
Health officials revealed that 31% adolescents of 15 to 18 year age group have been administered the first dose for the last 7 days.
Prime Minister noted this achievement and urged the states to further accelerate the vaccine drive for adolescent in a mission mode. He said that active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases and the required Technical Support be provided to states which are reporting higher cases presently.
He highlighted the need for effective usage of mask and physical distances as new normal to control the spread. There is a need for effective implementation of home isolation for mild asymptomatic cases and disseminate the factual information to the community at large, he said.
