Delhi Govt to form task force to protect children from 3rd wave

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said his government will form a special task force comprising paediatricians and senior IAS officers to protect children from the third wave of COVID-19. A committee of officials will also be formed to overlook the availability of medicines, oxygen and beds in the national capital, a statement issued by the Delhi government said. Kejriwal convened a meeting with officials to review the current COVID situation in Delhi and deliberate on the measures to be taken to prevent the third wave of the pandemic, it added. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for COVID-19, and Health Minister Satyendar Jain were present at the meeting.

"If the third wave of the coronavirus emerges, we have to be prepared in advance to fight it. Took some important decisions today at a meeting with officials -- to create a special task force to protect children from the third wave, adequate beds, oxygen and a better management of essential medicines," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. He said the number of beds in the city hospitals will be increased on priority, along with an enhanced oxygen allocation, according to the statement. The chief minister directed the officials to work in advance to ensure a sufficient number of oxygen tankers and proper functioning of oxygen plants for an optimum supply of the life-saving gas to hospitals.