Odisha has urged the Centre to immediately send more vaccines to the state and sanction it a sum of Rs 300 crore to effectively fight the corona pandemic.
The state is facing an acute shortage of vaccines and it has stocks left only for two days. More than 700 vaccination centres have already shut down because of lack of vaccines.
On Thursday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik raised the issue of acute shortage of Covid-19 vaccines in the state during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with chief ministers to review the corona situation in the country. Naveen urged the Prime Minister to ensure that Odisha had enough vaccines stocks at least for next ten days.
“Odisha has been doing well in the vaccination programme with the lowest wastage rate in the country and an efficient system of administering the vaccines to eligible persons. We have not been able to ramp up the vaccination programme due to supply issues. We are currently able to vaccinate 2.5 lakh persons per day and have capability to increase it further. We request that at least 10 days stock of the vaccines is ensured for Odisha,” Naveen said.
He also asked the Centre to immediately release the Rs 300 crore to Odisha for 2021-22 for Covid management. “During 2020-21,
Odisha had requested for Rs 400 crore under Emergency Covid Response Plan (ECRP), but we received only Rs 146 crore. In view of the new wave of Covid, it is requested that at least Rs 300 crore be released to Odisha for 2021-22 for Covid management,” chief minister said.
Earlier, health and family welfare minister Naba Kishore Das said: “The state requires 2.5 lakh doses of vaccine every day. But if vaccines don’t reach the state immediately all vaccination centres in the state will be closed from Saturday. We have asked for immediate supply of 25 lakh doses of vaccines.”
Mask Abhiyana
Naveen on Friday launched a 14-day Mask Abhiyana to beat the coronavirus. He also urged women to ensure that their family members wear the masks while going out of the house. The announcement came on a day when Odisha witnessed the highest surge of 1,282 new cases.
Announcing the Abhiyana, Naveen said: “If we do practice anything for 14 days, then it becomes a habit. Only by practicing such things, we can overcome the corona without the lockdown.”
Making it clear that the government is not in favour of any lockdown, Naveen pointed out how lockdown last year had made an impact on the socio-economic condition of the people.
“If we wear the masks properly and abide by the Covid guidelines, we will overcome the situation without going for a lockdown,” he said.
He further said: “Several states have declared lockdown, shutdown and night curfew. Odisha has also witnessed a surge in cases and this can be contained if we follow the safety protocols and use a mask.”
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has made it mandatory for the people coming from other states to produce the RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hours of entry of final vaccination certificates (after two doses of vaccinations).
Health and family welfare minister Naba Kishore Das said: “People coming without such reports will have to undergo seven days mandatory and institutional quarantine.”
In another development, the Odisha government has suspended all modes of public transport from Chhattisgarh and vice versa from April 10-30.
Following a direction from the government, the police have launched a drive to impose penalty on people violating Covid-19 guidelines.
“On the second day of the special Covid enforcement drive, Odisha police acted against 11801 violators of mask usage and social distancing rules and collected a fine of Rs 26,61,450 in the last 24 hours,” tweeted Odisha police.
It said: “Cumulatively in two days action has been taken against 21201 violators of Covid protocols in the state and penal fines amounting to Rs 51,69,350 have been collected. We urge all to wear masks and maintain social distance.”
