XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 no cause for concern, says Maha health minister

Maharashtra Health Minister Dr Tanaji Sawant on Saturday said the current XBB116 variant of coronavirus was no cause for concern and citizens should not panic about the rise in casesThe present wave will come down to an endemic stage by May 15 and a downward trend will be seen next month the minister said while urging citizens not to panicMaharashtra on Friday reported 993 COVID19 cases and five deaths which took the tally to 8160499 and the toll to 148497According to the state health department the XBB116 is the dominant variant of Omicron that was driving the case surge in the state So far 681 cases caused by this variant have been detected and five persons have succumbedAlso Read Pune jumbo COVID centre Four of firm booked for irregularitiesThe minister was speaking at the bhoomi poojan ceremony of the new 900bed district civil superspeciality hospital in Thane which was performed by Chief Minister Eknath ShindeSpeaking on the occasion Shinde said the Thane District Civil Hospital had a major role in the development of the Shiv Sena in Thane and surrounding districtsThe new superspeciality hospital will be constructed on the same land where the existing medical facility standsThe 900bed hospital will be a modern one equipped with all superspeciality facilities such as an air ambulance he saidState ministers Ravindra Chavan Dr Tanaji Sawant Union MoS Kapil Patil MLA Sanjay Kelkar MLC Niranjan Davkhare and a number of elected representatives and Thane Collector Ashok Shingare and Thane Civil Surgeon Dr Kailas Pawar were present for the ceremonyThe chief minister said a total of Rs 50 crore were disbursed to more than 6000 beneficiaries from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund during his tenure which was not done in the past he saidShinde further said the state government has introduced several initiatives in the health sector including Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Davakhana scheme under which citizens could get quick medical treatment near their homesDuring the COVID19 pandemic doctors and other medical staff had proved their commitment due to which many patients preferred availing treatment at the civil hospital he saidHealth Minister Dr Sawant said he will monitor the work on the hospital building which is likely to be completed and handed over on August 30 2024He also appealed to the chief minister to recognise health department workers who had risked their lives during the pandemic by providing increments promotions and also making the temporary employees permanentThis 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