There should be no hurry in relaxing curbs, Uddhav Thackeray tells officials

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday directed the state health authorities to focus on seven districts in the state where the Covid19 infection count is relatively higher and increase testing and vaccination thereThackeray also made it clear that there should be no hurry in relaxing the coronavirusinduced restrictions and the local administration should not take any chances considering the threat of the virus spreadAddressing virtually the collectors of Raigad Ratnagiri Sindhudurg Satara Sangli Kolhapur and Hingoli districts where the number of cases being reported is high Thackeray said the state health department should plan about making available oxygen beds ICU beds setting up field hospitals in all districts in view of the possibility of a third waveHe said that upgrading health infrastructure is necessary in view of the prevailing second wave the Delta plus variant of the virus and the threat of third wave We have to be very careful in future We are at the tail of the second wave Unlocking shouldnt be done in a hurry Each district should be selfsufficient in oxygen production Administration must ensure that oxygen medical equipment are available for rural and remote areas he saidThackeray also said that more field hospitals should be set up and planning for it should be done by identifying buildings and premisesHealth secretary Pradeep Vyas said the states positivity rate has come down to 015 per cent but the positivity rate in the seven districts three of them in Konkan region as many in western Maharashtra and one in Marathwada is double or triple Meanwhile in a separate meeting with oxygen manufacturers Thackeray said the states target was producing 3000 metric tonnes of oxygen per day and asked them to increase the production and storage capacityThe present capacity is 1300 metric tonnes per dayHe asked the companies to take benefit of the governments scheme under which various concessions are given to boost the oxygen production State chief secretary Sitaram Kunte who was present at the meeting urged the companies to set up oxygen plants in remote and rural areas Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 10066 Covid19 infections taking its overall tally to 5997587 The state had on June 16 reported 10107 cases and since then the daily count had remained below 10000 With 163 deaths during the day the fatality count increased to 119303This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever