New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday chaired a review meeting with senior officials on medical oxygen preparedness in view of rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
During the second wave of COVID-19, there was an unprecedented increase in the demand for medical oxygen across the country. The demand reached around 9,000 metric tonnes (MT) this year as against the peak requirement of 3,095 MT during the first wave, news agency PTI reported.
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The supply of oxygen for medical purposes was also increased almost 10-fold from 1,000 tonnes per day in December 2019 to 9,600 tonnes per day in May this year.
Officials from the Ministries of Road, Steel and Health and NITI Aayog participated in the meeting, PTI reported.
in the meeting, Piyush Goyal recommended that the online monitoring and reporting system should be strengthened with special focus on remote states.
A break-up of the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plants installed across the country was also shared with the group members during the meeting.
The members of the meeting were apprised about the Oxygen Demand Aggregation System (ODAS), which has been developed by the National Health Authority, PTI quoted an official as saying.
Earlier in the day, Piyush Goyal took to Twitter to inform about the review meeting regarding medical oxygen preparedness.
“Had a review meeting on medical oxygen preparedness in the country. Discussed effective ways to ensure the availability of adequate medical oxygen to strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he wrote.
As of 27 December, liquid medical oxygen production capacity was over 8,780 metric tons and actual production exceeded 5,500 metric tons.
According to PTI, over 1,200 cryogenic tanks were installed in various hospitals for storage of oxygen till December 29 this year, as against 790 on December 31, 2020. Similarly, till December this year, the number of oxygen cylinders is more than 12.5 lakh. With 8.7 lakh in the same month last year.
India’s zero value at 1.22, govt stress COVID cases rising
The central government on Thursday cautioned that coronavirus cases in India are rising, not shrinking, as India’s R zero value, which indicates the spread of COVID-19, is 1.22. “India’s zero value, which indicates the spread of COVID-19, is 1.22, so the cases are increasing, not shrinking,” Sarkar said, as reported by PTI.
Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka and Gujarat are emerging as states and union territories on the basis of weekly COVID-19 cases and positivity rates, according to a Union health ministry briefing.
India’s active caseload currently stands at 82,402. The Health Ministry mentioned that an average of over 8,000 daily new cases were reported in the last one week while more than 10,000 daily cases were reported after 33 days.
The government stressed that there is a need to be more vigilant in view of the sharp rise in infections. Meanwhile, according to the Centre, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala are the top states where omicron Cases have been registered.
(with agency input)
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