COVID-19: Kerala to set up dedicated 'oxygen war rooms'

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid a spike in COVID-19 numbers, Kerala is setting up dedicated oxygen war rooms at the district and state levels.

Taking to twitter Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that dedicated oxygen war rooms will function with representatives of the police, health, transportation, disaster management and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

"Dedicated Oxygen War Rooms will function at State and District levels with representatives of Police, Health, Transportation, Disaster Management and PESO. O2 stock is being monitored in the Districts by Collectors. O2 module will be included in Covid Jagratha portal," said Kerala CM in a tweet.

The new initiative comes amidst the acute shortage of medical oxygen that various states are facing.

Earlier, Chief Minister Office informed that an oxygen plant will be set up in the Chattanchal Industrial Park under the Kasargod District Panchayat.

Meanwhile, Kerala reported 38,607 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

Action against hospitals flouting norms

Vijayan has directed strict action against private hospitals flouting norms to provide COVID-19 vaccination for relatives and friends, the Chief Minister's Office informed on Friday.

In a tweet, the CMO informed that District Collectors and the Police have been directed to take strict action and those behind these violations will have to face consequences.

Earlier on Thursday, state Health Minister KK Shailaja had issued new guidelines that said preference will be given to those taking the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

"There is no need to rush to COVID vaccination centres for this. The second dose of the Covishield vaccine should be taken within 6-8 weeks and the Covaxin within 4-6 weeks. The list of those eligible to receive the second dose of vaccine at each vaccination center will be available on the CoWIN portal," she said.

Chief Minister Vijayan on Wednesday announced that the state government will order 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and called for a change in the new vaccination policy and pricing.

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