Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday directed the health authorities on forming a task force in the wake of detection of the first case of JN.1 variant of Coronavirus in the state. He appealed to people to use masks and undertake Covid-19 tests in case of symptoms such as cold, cough and fever. “Ensure the availability of oxygen plants, ventilator, oxygen pipelines, RT-PCR labs, liquid oxygen plants. Also make sure that the vaccines and medicines are available in adequate quantity. The health machinery should set up a task force to take guidance from the experts,” said Shinde. He held a meeting to review the preparedness of the state's health machinery to tackle the possible challenge of JN.1 variant of coronavirus. According to the data from the state government, the state has 63,000 isolation beds, 33,000 oxygen beds and 9,500 ICU beds. The state at present has 45 Covid-19 patients out of which 27 are from Mumbai, 8 from Pune and Thane respectively, 1 each from Kolhapur and Raigad. “The country has in the past faced the Covid-19 challenge under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state is ready to face any eventuality learning from the example of the past. The people need not fear. We appeal to them to get tested in case of cough, cold and fever and use masks at public places during the celebration of festivals and new year,” he said. District collectors and health officials have been directed to undertake structural, electrical and fire audit of health establishments and to keep isolation as well as oxygen beds ready.
