PM Modi has decided to chair a meeting with the CMs of the respective states via video conferencing, looking at the increasing cases graph in the country. During the day-long meeting with the chief ministers, PM Modi will review the Covid situation and as per their suggestions, a possible decision is awaited to be taken.
Earlier a few states have partially announced lockdowns by imposing night curfews and Section 144, it is possible that PM Modi might announce another lockdown in states where the cases are rising at a rapid rate.
However, the Centre would give states the power to decide on the announcement of lockdown. The development comes as the country has crossed the 91 lakh mark in coronavirus cases in the past one week. The health ministry earlier in the day had said that India has been registering less than 50,000 COVID-19 cases daily since November 8 which assumes significance as several countries in the Western Hemisphere are witnessing a surge in cases at the onset of winter.
The situation worsened as a total of 44,059 people were found infected with COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours with 10 states and UTs contributing to 78.74 per cent of the new infections.
India’s present active caseload (4, 43,486) comprises 4.85 per cent of the total cases, and has been sustained below the 5 per cent mark.
The national COVID-19 recovery rate continues to be above 93 per cent as 93.68 per cent of all cases have recovered as of date with 41,024 new recoveries being registered in a day.
Expressing concern over the rising cases of coronavirus, the Supreme Court earlier in the day asked the Centre and all states to file within two days status reports detailing the steps taken to deal with the situation.
The apex court also said that there is spike in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra and authorities have to take steps and prepare for the worst for December
“Things have worsened in Delhi especially in November. You file a status report on what steps have been taken,” a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan told Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who was appearing for Delhi government.
The top court said all efforts shall be made by the Centre and the states to mitigate the situation and to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Observing that there is a rise in COVID-19 cases across the country especially in Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat, the bench noted the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had taken a meeting on November 15 and steps are being taken to deal with the situation in the national capital.
