23 APRIL 2021

NATIONAL PLAN TO COMBAT THE PANDEMIC

The Supreme Court of India directed the Central Government to formulate a national plan for supplying Oxygen and essential drugs for the treatment of patients infected with the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

 Taking the case suo moto, the Court would also consider the method and manner of the Covid-19 vaccination to be administered considering the huge surge in cases and the grim situation being faced in the country.

The Supreme Court appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as an amicus curiae to assist the proceedings. 

The Court also termed the pandemic situation as almost ‘national emergency’.

 According to the Home Ministry, India registered 3,14,835 new coronavirus infected cases in a day, the highest ever single day recorded in any country taking the total tally of 1,59,30,965 as on 22 April 2021.

 The death toll also increased to 1,84,657 with a record of 2,104 new fatalities in the country.

In Kerala, 26,995 new cases were reported, the highest single day so far with 28 additional fatalities. According to a government release, 1,35,177 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate –TPR was 19.97 in the state.

Taking note of the grim situation in the country, the Supreme Court directed the government to come out with a ‘national plan’ to deal with proper distribution of oxygen and essential drugs for patients immediately.