- Union Health minister admits that India is experiencing community transmission limited to certain pockets
- The minister clarified that the circulation of newspapers could not spread the coronavirus
- Rs 1352 Crores released for Phase II of Covid Package for 33 states and Union Territories
THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: The Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, finally accepted in the weekly Sunday Samwad that India is experiencing “community transmission.” However, during his weekly interaction program on October 18, he reassured that the transmission is only occurring in specific districts and states.
No transmission-efficient or pathogenic mutation of coronavirus has been discovered in India and informed the Health Minister.
The statement came in response to CM Mamata Banerjee’s admission that West Bengal is witnessing community transmission of Covid-19. The health minister said,
“In different pockets across various states, including West Bengal, community transmission is expected to occur, especially in dense areas. However, this is not happening across the country. It is limited to certain districts occurring in limited states.”
Citing examples of community transmission, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed fingers at Kerala’s delinquency during Onam that led to a steep hike in Covid-19 cases.
“The state is paying the price of its gross negligence. There were huge congregations during Onam and adequate safety measures were not taken,” the minister said.
The Union minister noted that the increasing interstate and intrastate travel might have caused the jump in infections. When hit by the first wave of the Covid pandemic, Kerala had been relatively successful in flattening the Covid curve rate. The state had reported only 499 cases and two deaths between January 30 and May 3, and the patients were concentrated in particular pockets of Kerala.
Busting the myth of newspapers having a role in community transmission, the health minister clarified no scientific evidence to justify this claim. He affirmed that the infection could not spread through newspapers is reading them is completely safe.
Among other notifications, Dr. Harsh Vardhan also announced the release of RS 1352 crores as a part of Phase II of the Covid Package. The grant would be allotted to 33 States and Union Territories to support the state governments fighting against the pandemic financially. The Phase II grant has been released in parts during August, September, and October 2020.