NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, MARCH 27
Andhra Pradesh government will bring in an Ordinance for vote on account budget for the three- month period up to June 30 for all Departmental expenses in wake of Covid-19.
The cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gave its nod on Friday. Measures taken to contain coronavirus in the state were also discussed at the meeting.
Speaking to media after the cabinet meeting, State Information and Public Relations Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) told media that the cabinet has approved the Ordinance for drawing money for the expenses of State for the next three months and once it gets the Governor’s nod, the details would be revealed. As it is not possible to convene the budget session in wake of the pandemic, the government is going for an Ordinance.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held extensive discussions on the medical facilities and strengthening the medicare system and has put in place all measures with a high level monitoring system. To get state level feedback a taskforce with five ministers, 10 senior IAS officers and four officials from CMO will be formed to coordinate with district level teams of ministers and officers, he said.
So far 11 positive cases are reported in the state and the number of foreign returnees were mapped at 28,000 and a constant vigil is being maintained on them and their contacts.
Four hospitals one each at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Nellore are now converted into dedicated super specialty COVID hosptials while 100 bedded isolation centres are in place at constituency level and 200-bed isolation centres at district level.
About 400 ventilators are in place and PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment) surgical masks for patient attendants along with N 95 masks are available in required numbers and order was placed for more equipment which will be delivered in a couple of days, the minister said.
The helpline 104 will be active 24/7 with 60 parallel lines and medicare staff will attend all emergencies. Village volunteers along with ANMs and Asha workers and health assistants are doing their best and it is the turn of the people to cooperate by home isolation and social distancing, he said.
People should take the social curfew seriously and help the government in fighting the invisible enemy. It is very sad to see that students and others from our state are stranded at other places but the helplessness of the situation prompts us to say that they have to stay where they are or cross the border and be quarantined for 14 days.
The Chief Minister would be more happy to seek Centre’s help bring back Andhra students from anywhere but now in times of Covid-19, the situation is grim and everyone has to stay where they are to avoid the spread.
Social distancing was also observed during the cabinet meeting, he said.
Essential commodities will be available and goods vehicles are permitted to move and the Minister for Fisheries Mopidevi Venkataramana will speak to the aqua exporters for transport of their products.
Chandababu Naidu has been trying to play politics even at this hour of crisis by asking how did the number of returnees inflate from 13,000 to 28,000. During the first survey held on March 10 the figure was 13,000 and the recent survey concluded reveled the higher figure as there was rush of passengers both domestic and foreign with the closure of airports and national lockdown.
He also appealed to the media not to blow the stories of state borders and create panic but cooperate with the government.
Donations to CMRF pouring in
Giving a helping hand to government’s efforts in fighting against COVID-19, donors have been generously contributing to the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).
Megha Engineering and Infra Structure companies MD PV Krishna Reddy donated Rs 5 crore to CMRF and the cheque was handed over to the Chief Minister here on Friday.
Teaching and non-teaching staff of Siddartha Educational Institutions have donated Rs 1.3 crore to CMRF and the institutions Secretary Paladugu Lakshman Rao and Treasurer Sureddy Venkateswara Rao have presented the cheque to Chief Minister.
Donations have also been made to the CMRF through online. YSRCP leader Devineni Avinash and CM programme coordinator Thalashila Raghuram were among those present while presenting the cheque to the Chief Minister.
