Maharashtra: Special panel will monitor changing Covid-19 situation, says Fadnavis

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement in the legislative Assembly on Wednesday. File pic

Maharashtra government has announced the formation of a task force or a special committee to monitor the changing COVID-19 situation in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement while responding to a question raised by Opposition leader Ajit Pawar in the legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The move comes in view of the recent COVID surge in China and other countries.

"A task force or a special committee will be formed for studying the changing patterns. The committee will advise the government, and the recommendations will be implemented," said Fadnavis, adding that the state would coordinate with the Centre over the same.

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Meanwhile, the Union ministry of health and family affairs on Wednesday reviewed the situation in other countries and discussed a strategy for India. The ministry has sent an advisory to all states and Union Territories telling them to send samples of COVID patients for genome sequencing apart from asking people to take precautionary measures and get vaccinated.

State Health Secretary Sanjay Khandare said that positive samples will be sent to laboratories in Mumbai and Pune for genome sequencing, the ANI reported.

The state, however, has not planned on restarting random testing at airports and railway stations. Khandare said that the state was awaiting further instructions from the Centre and that priority was on vaccination.