Group of Ministers reviews current status, management of COVID-19

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : A meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to review, monitor and evaluate the preparedness and measures taken regarding management of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country, was held here on March 11, 2020, under the chairpersonship of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.

Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Nityananda Rai, Minister of State for Home,  Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/c), Ministry of Shipping, Chemicals and Fertilisers, and  Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Health & Family Welfare, members of the GOM, were also present.

A presentation of the status of the COVID-19 was made before the GOM. The actions taken for prevention and management of COVID-19 in India were presented, which included information about the various travel advisories in view of the evolving global situation regarding COVID-19, including the additional two issued on March 10, 2020.

As a measure of prevention, it was reiterated that as per the Travel Advisory, passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain, and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period. The meeting was attended by Secretaries and other senior officials of the relevant Ministries/Departments.

Union Health & Family Welfare Secretary Preeti Sudan informed the GoM that the States/UTs had been advised to do rigorous IEC and make people aware of  the precautions, symptoms and helpline numbers. The identification of additional quarantine facilities, development of isolation wards, training of health workers & doctors are also being undertaken by the States/UTs. Regular handholding, monitoring, advisories, guidelines etc. is being done with the States/UTs.

She reiterated that the universal screening is being done for the travellers from 12 countries for all the flights from China, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Iran, and Italy at the earmarked aero-bridges.

The GoM undertook elaborate discussions on the various other precautionary measures which may be considered in the interest of the citizens of India.

Union Cabinet Secretary also took a meeting with Secretaries of the Ministries concerned, representatives from Army, ITBP, here on March 11, 2020. It was decided that all States/UTs should be advised by MoHFW to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare/State/UTs are enforceable. Also, 83 passengers who arrived from Italy on March 11 are being quarantined at the Army Facility at Manesar, according to a PIB release.