Maharashtra in touch with Serum CEO, task force set up to manage COVID vaccine distribution: Uddhav Thackeray to PM Modi

Kejriwal told the prime minister that Delhi saw the peak of 8,600 coronavirus cases on November 10 during the third wave and since then, the number of cases as well as the positivity rate are steadily decreasing.

PTI photo

NEW DELHI: At a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (Nov 24) said the high severity of the third wave of COVID-19 in the national capital is due to many factors, pollution being an important one, sources said.

During Tuesday meeting, CM Kejriwal told PM Modi that Delhi saw the peak of 8,600 coronavirus cases on November 10 during the third wave and since then, the number of cases as well as the positivity rate are steadily decreasing, the sources said. The chief minister hoped that the trend would continue in the national capital. "The high severity of the third wave is due to many factors. Pollution is an important factor. The chief minister sought the prime minister's intervention to get rid of the pollution caused by stubble-burning in adjoining states, especially in view of the recent bio-decomposer technique," a source said.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister, Kejriwal also sought the reservation of the additional 1,000 ICU beds in the central government-run hospitals in Delhi for coronavirus patients till the third wave of the infection lasts in the city, the source said.

Task force formed to ensure timely distribution of COVID-19 vaccine: Maharashtra CM informs PM Modi

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray informed PM Modi that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of coronavirus vaccine and executing the vaccination programme. Thackeray is currently attending the meeting of the Prime Minister with chief ministers of various states over the coronavirus situation.

He said that the Aghadi government is in touch with Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), which is the partner in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for coronavirus. "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray informed PM Narendra Modi that he is in constant touch with Adar Poonawalla of Serum Institute and that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of vaccine and executing the vaccination programme," according to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Bengal COVID-19 situation being addressed aptly: Mamata Banerjee

The COVID-19 situation in West Bengal is being addressed aptly, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee told PM Modi today. "The Chief Minister briefed the PM that the COVID-19 situation in West Bengal is under control," an official said. She apprised the PM about the discharge rate among the COVID-19 patients in the state and informed him that the number of new infections is on the decline, he said.

PM Modi interacted via video-conferencing with the Chief Ministers of eight states that are witnessing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases to review the pandemic situation.

Delhi recorded 4,454 fresh COVID-19 cases and a positivity rate of 11.94 per cent on November 23, while 121 more fatalities pushed the death toll due to the disease to 8,512 in the city. This was the sixth time in 12 days that the daily number of deaths crossed the 100-mark in the national capital.

Authorities reported 121 deaths due to COVID-19 on Sunday, 111 on Saturday, 118 on Friday, 131 on November 18, the highest till date, and 104 on November 12.