NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, APRIL 19
Andhra Pradesh doctors have set a record by conducting 5,508 COVID-19 tests per day by taking the second place among states conducting maximum number of COVID-19 tests per million.
This was revealed at a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Saturday on the progress of tests being taken up by the government for the containment of Corona.
The doctors could achieve the record on Friday even without using the rapid test kits by completely concentrating on the tests, said the officials. This would be intensified in the next10 days by conducting over 17,500 tests per day for which necessary arrangements have been made with the rapid test kits.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to lay more stress on the red zones.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to take volunteers, asha workers, and staff in the ward and village secretariats, police and doctors in the frontline into confidence in eradicating the pandemic. The Chief Minister lauded the services of all those who were involved in the humane endeavour. He said special care should be taken in maintaining health and hygiene in the hospitals for which a special drive should be taken up once in every two, three days.
Chief Secretary Neelam Sahney, DSP Gautam Sawang and medical and health special chief secretary Jawahar Reddy were present.
Dy. CM denied corruption in purchase of COVID-19 test kits
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Health, Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas clarified that the State government has purchased rapid test kits in a transparent manner and there is no scope for corruption in the deal and
TDP is intentionally politicising the issue with false allegations.
The purchase was made from the lowest bidder and the entire transaction was done according to the guidelines framed by the Centre. Initially the state government agreed to purchase each kit for Rs 730 and placed an order for two lakh kits. Since there are price fluctuations, we have added a clause that in case if the company or their partner companies sell their products lower than the quoted price, then the difference amount will be deducted from the final payment. The concerned company has agreed to this clause and there is nothing secret in the purchase he said.
The opposition party members are unnecessarily politicising the issue as it was used for kickbacks. TDP members are intentionally showcasing the purchase documents by hiding the clause for cheap publicity. Strict action will be taken against those spreading false propaganda during this pandemic situation. ICMR has also procured rapid test kits for Rs 790, a day after the purchase done by the State government.
Since Chhattisgarh government is purchasing the test kits at Rs 335, the State government has also written to the concerned about the purchase and asked for an explanation. The State government has done the purchases as per the stipulated guidelines in a most transparent manner. The high power committee constituted by the State government is closely monitoring the purchases and the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is personally reviewing the aspects every single day, he said.
SHG women in forefront in emergency services
Women from Self Help Groups are working in the forefront not only in emergency services but also in supporting their families as part of government’s efforts in the containment of COVID-19. They are earning over Rs 500 per day each by making protection masks at the rate of Rs 3.5 per mask as per the directions of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to provide them employment to overcome the global pandemic.
The mask being manufactured by the women are being distributed in the Red Zones and will soon cater to the needs of others also. The women’s groups have prepared 7.28 lakh masks by Sunday evening. They plan to increase the output to 30 lakh per day in four to five days. The Chief Minister has personally supervised and launched the manufacture of masks by women at his residence today.
This is as part of the Chief Minister’s decision to supply 16 crore masks in the state for curbing the spread of the virus, with three masks per head. The masks made by the women were handed over to the Chief Minister under the aegis of Mefma Mission officials. The cloth needed for the masks will be supplied by APPCO and it was estimated that 1.5 crore metres of cloth is needed to make the 16 crore masks. So far, the APPCO has supplied over 20 lakh metres of cloth for the purpose.
Nearly 40,000 ladies tailors from among the self-help groups have been selected and the work of making masks taken up on a war-footing and the details are being uploaded on to the real time data, officials added.
