The Union Health Minister said ventilator production are in the advanced stages and will reach states soon

As the total number of novel coronavirus cases across the country near 3,000, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday chaired a meeting of Empowered Groups constituted for planning and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 response activities in the nation.

During the meeting, PM Modi took stock of countrywide preparedness regarding the availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training, Office of the PM tweeted.

He further directed concerned groups and officials to ensure sufficient production, procurement and availability of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves and ventilators.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said ventilator production are in the advanced stages and will reach states soon even as he assured that there is no shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits, N95 masks.

Following the healthy ministry’s directive, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) put curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with immediate effect. The move would help in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis as these kits are required for testing of patients. “The export of diagnostic kits (diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, preparation diagnostic or laboratory reagents)… is restricted with immediate effect,” the DGFT notification read.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged people to use homemade face masks, saying “such people who are not suffering from any medical condition or having breathing difficulties may use the handmade reusable face cover, particularly when they step out of their house.”

Courtesy: Indian Express