NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, MARCH 28
Andhra Pradesh government is adopting a three-pronged strategy to fight the spread of Covid-19 besides intensifying the monitoring mechanism and providing help to those stranded at various places during lockdown.
The government would strictly implement social isolation, ensure continuous supply chain of essential commodities and see to it that agricultural harvesting is done on time and farmers get Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy convened a Ministers’ meeting to discuss about the measures to be taken to contain conronovirus in the state on Saturday.
After participating in the meeting, the ministers told the waiting journalists that so far 13 cases were tested positive of the 428 suspected cases with 378 getting a negative report and 37 test reports are yet to come.
Health Minister Alla Nani said 29,115 are under home quarantine across the state, while 149 are on hospital isolation. The spread is fast in urban areas as 12 of the 13 positive cases are from cities. So far, 29,264 foreign returnees were identified in AP and 29,115 were in-home quarantine and 149 in hospital quarantine. All these are being monitored on realtime basis.
One doctor should be appointed for every 10 foreign returnees and a specialist should be appointed above them. Moreover, the video conference facility should be available between the doctors and specialists, he said adding that necessary protection suits and tools should be supplied to doctors, volunteers, Asha workers to ensure their safety from coronavirus. For the same, the order has been placed to purchase about 1.35 lakh PPEs, 5 lakh N-95 masks, and 400 ventilators, the minister added.
The Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney in the review meeting has briefed to the Chief Minister regarding the actions being taken by the government in the prevention of COVID-19.
People who are stopped at inter-state borders should be provided with accommodation and food in the camps. Only those who are willing for 14 days quarantine should be allowed at the border and a Resident officer is appointed for these camps, said Minister.
The Chief Minister sought details on the second survey results conducted by village volunteers and instructed the officials that this process should be continued where every volunteer records the condition of 50 households, said Minister and added that the service of doctors who voluntarily come forward in fighting against COVID-19 should be utilized.
Those who were identified in the survey conducted by ANMs, Asha workers, and volunteers should be sent to doctor and treatment should be provided as per the protocol.
Minister said that the government is taking steps to increase samples testing capacity. With concern to the negative feedback on the blockade of goods vehicles, the Chief Minister ordered DGP to resolve the issue immediately.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to coordinate with collectors in the state borders and make use of marriage halls and hotels to accommodate people only after sanitizing those places.
Minister for Municipal Administration Botsa Satyanarayana asserted that there is no shortage of food and essential goods in the state and the state government would strictly implement the central government’s protocol at the inter-state border.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Kurasla Kannababau said banana yields are coming up in Rayalaseema and also, the second crop of rice is coming. For the transport of agriculture products from the state, the government would seek permission from other states, he added.
PV Ramesh, CMO’s special secretary has asked the people not to panic and be careful as the coronavirus does not shows any symptoms for 14 days from the day of virus infection.
Chief Minister has ordered officials to concentrate on agriculture, aquaculture, and related sectors and resolve the issues as soon as possible. He instructed the officials to take strict actions to ensure the social distancing among the public.
Group of Ministers participated in the meeting were Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas, Botsa Satyanarayana, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, M Sucharitha, and Kurasala Kannababu.
Govt. to fix prices for Aqua products
Following the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s order to avoid the aquaculture farmers from distress sale, the government has decided to fix prices for the aqua products from Saturday to April 14, said Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao.
Speaking to media here on Saturday, Minister said that strict actions will be taken against those who purchase the aqua products less than the government fixed price. The government is taking necessary measures to rescue the aqua and poultry sector from loss.
About 90 percent of aqua products are being exported to other countries.
The fixed price details are; for 30 count Rs 430, 40 count Rs 310, 50 count Rs 210, 90 count Rs 190, and 100 count Rs 180. The Minister emphasized that the government would help the farmers in whichever way possible at the tough situation of pandemic coronavirus outbreak.
