Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the country and asked the officials to ensure rapid upgradation of health infrastructure, a news agency reported.
The PM was also briefed on the efforts being made to ramp up the availability and supply of oxygen.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday said the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s entire system has failed due to the alleged black marketing of oxygen cylinders and crucial medicines for treating Covid-19 patients.
“Set your house in order. If you cannot manage it, we will ask the central government to takeover,” the court told the Delhi government.
Early on Tuesday, the country received 95 oxygen concentrators and 100 ventilators from the United Kingdom as the country continues to fight against depleting resources amid the second wave of the novel coronavirus.
The Supreme Court has said its suo motu proceeding on devising a national policy for COVID-19 management is not meant to supplant cases being heard by the high courts but added that the top court cannot be a “mute spectator” at the time of national crisis. In another order, the top court allowed Vedanta to operate its closed oxygen plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, saying the order has been passed in view of the “national need” for oxygen.
India, in the last 24 hours, recorded 3,23,144 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the cumulative tally to 1,76,36,307. Of these, 28,82,204 are active cases. 2,771 deaths were also reported on Monday.
Surjitt Sahani
