Modi convenes all-party meet on Dec 4 to discuss COVID

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an all-party meeting on December 5 to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

The meeting is likely to be attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Minister Pralhad Joshi among others.

Reports said Joshi has already reached out to leaders of prominent parties to attend the meeting.

India’s COVID-19 tally reached 94.31 lakh with 38,772 fresh cases. The recoveries surged to 88,47,600.

This is the second-such all-party meeting that the prime minister will chair, after the pandemic broke out early this year.

Earlier in the day, Modi held a virtual meeting with three teams working on developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine, and said they should take extra efforts to inform people in simple language about the vaccine and related matters such as its efficacy.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said that Modi also asked the companies, represented by these teams, to come out with their suggestions and ideas regarding the regulatory processes and related matters.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, health minister Vardhan said the government is preparing to arrange COVID-19 vaccines for 25-30 crore people by July-August next year.

“In the first three to four months of next year, there is a possibility that we will be able to provide vaccine to the people of the country. By July-August, we have a plan to provide vaccines to around 25-30 crore people and we are preparing accordingly,” ANI quoted him as saying.