Indian PM appeals for consolidated efforts to fight COVID-19

NEW DELHI, April 23 (KUNA) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people and state governments on Friday to work together to fight the pandemic with collective power.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that Modi made the appeal in a high-level meeting on COVID-19 situation with chief ministers of 11 states, which have been hit the most.
"PM Modi called for working together to fight the pandemic with collective power. He said the biggest basis of India's success during the first wave of the pandemic was our united efforts and united strategy and reiterated that we will have to address this challenge in the same way," the statement said.
Assuaging increasing concerns over supply of oxygen to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, Modi assured full support of the central government to all the states in this struggle. Modi also told the chief ministers that the Ministry of Health is "monitoring the situation closely and issuing necessary advices to the states from time to time." Modi also assured uninterrupted oxygen supply to the states stating that concerned authorities and ministries are working together and exerting continuous effort to increase oxygen supply. "Industrial oxygen has also been diverted to meet immediate requirements." He underlined the importance of continuing testing and the massive vaccination programme underway in the country. He also stressed the need of hospital safety in wake of deaths due to disruption in oxygen supply and fire. India reported 2,263 deaths and 332,730 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. (end) atk.hb