CG demands one weeks vaccine in advance from PM Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel attending the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Staff Reporter : RAIPUR Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has demanded one weeks vaccine in advance along with reduction of GST rates on medicines and devices used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients. He also demanded that the central government should provide assistance for setting up 1000 bedded ICUs in the state. The Chief Minister put forth these demands during the virtual meeting of Chief Ministers on COVID-19 held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chairing the meeting the Prime Minister laid emphasis on test track and treat as the effective strategy to check the spread of the disease. Terming the present situation in the country as challenging he said test track and treat strategy should be followed in containment zones. He also called for observing a vaccine festival from April 11-14 to inoculate the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries. Laying emphasis on COVID-19 testing the Prime Minister said the centres target is to conduct 70% RT-PCR tests. He said let the number of positive cases swell but maximum numbers of testing should be carried out. The Prime Minister said there is a need to impose micro-containment zones in areas where COVID-19 cases are rising. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged the Central Government to provide one week of needed vaccine in advance to the state in view of the geographical situation of Chhattisgarh. He said that this would facilitate vaccination in the remotely situated districts. He said reduction of GST rates on medicines and devices used in the treatment of Covid-19 will put less economic burden on the Corona infected patients during treatment. He also asked the Central Government to provide support for the continuous supply of Remdesivir injection and oxygen cylinders setting up of 4 virology labs and one BSL-4 lab in State and infrastructure of 1000 bedded ICU in view of the present conditions of the state. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel attended this meeting through video conference from his official residence. Also present on the occasion were Health Minister T S Singhdeo Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain ACS (Health) Renu G Pillay Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi Director (Health) Neeraj Bansod and Director National Health Mission Dr Priyanka Shukla. Giving information about the status of vaccination in the state the Chief Minister said that in Chhattisgarh the first dose of vaccine has been given to 87 percent health care workers 84 percent frontline workers and 43 percent people above 45 years of age. As on April 7 33.61 lakh vaccine doses have been given in the state. He said that continuous efforts are being made to increase the testing capacity in the state especially RT-PCR and Trunat Test.The daily average testing in the month of February was 21142 which increased to 30501 in March and to 39 in April. In Chhattisgarh 204420 tests are being done on per 10 lakh population while at the national level 189664 tests are being done per 10 lakh population. In Chhattisgarh 1435 tests are being done every day on a population of 10 lakhs while at the national level 929 tests are being done on a population of 10 lakhs per day. The Chief Minister informed that the RT-PCR test percentage in the state was 26 percent in October 2020 which has increased to about 40 percent in April 2021. Currently RT-PCR test facility is available in 7 government labs and 5 private labs in the state. In addition 4 new government RT-PCR labs are being set up in Mahasamund Kanker Korba and Koriya districts in the state. Also 31 government labs and 5 private labs have facilities for Truenat testing. Giving information about prevention of corona infection in the state the Chief Minister said that apart from the government staff efforts are being made through all the social organizations of the state to get Corona infected patients treated quickly. Emphasis is also being laid on active surveillance for early identification of patients. The Chief Minister said that 207 containment zones have been declared in the state. Active surveillance and testing are being done door-to-door in each containment zone. In the event of not wearing masks in public places a penalty of Rs 500 has been imposed. He said that in view of the present situation lockdown has also been imposed in Raipur Durg Bemetara to break the transmission chain.

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