Patience is our greatest friend in the hour of crisis, and everyone should stand together to overcome this pandemic instead of creating an atmosphere of fear, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while taking the attack to the opposition. Yogi, who was on a visit to Muzaffarnagar after hitting the ground running with whirlwind tours of districts, including Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Mathura and Varanasi after coming out of isolation on April 30, said that this pandemic should be tackled with ‘patience’ instead of creating panic. “But, there are some people who, instead of boosting the morale, created fear among the masses which resulted in everyone running errands for oxygen and essential medicines, creating a  lot of panic and disorder,” he said.
Reiterating that Uttar Pradesh has sufficient supply of oxygen for treating the COVID-19 patients, the CM said that the demand in the second wave has reached over 1,000 MT and the government managed to meet it with the help of the Centre, Air Force and Indian Railways.
The CM also said that as the state has managed to deal with the second wave of coronavirus, the entire machinery is prepared to deal with the third wave in the same way.
While addressing a press conference in Muzaffarnagar after inspecting the Covid command centre and having a review meeting with the district officials, the CM said four oxygen plants have already been set up in the district and six more are being set up to ensure that there is no shortage of oxygen. “At present, work is underway for 300 oxygen plants in the state,” the chief minister said.
The CM has also asked the officials to ensure that there is no scarcity of food for the underprivileged families in every district and village. From May 20, 5 kg of foodgrains will be distributed among the poor and Rs 1,000 per head per month to daily-wage workers, street vendors, cobblers and potters.
“To curb the spread of coronavirus infection in villages, screening work is being done by the surveillance committees. If necessary, antibody and RT-PCR tests are also being conducted. Free treatment has also been arranged for people post-Covid,” he said.
After Muzaffarnagar, the CM reached Rampur village and met the locals. He also interacted with the Rapid Response Team members and ASHA workers engaged in the control of coronavirus infection and reviewed the system.
The CM also urged people to make sure no one steps out unnecessarily. “People should maintain social distancing and wear masks while going out of their homes for essential work. Those suffering from any disease must take all the necessary precautions,” the CM said.
Yogi then reached Saharanpur where he announced the setting up of 11 new oxygen plants in the district. He said that oxygen generator plants will be set up in every district by the Sugarcane department. The CM inspected the Integrated Command and Control Centre and subsequently gave necessary instructions in a review meeting with public representatives and officials. Officials of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Saharanpur division were also present in the meeting virtually. The CM said that in order to save the economy, the state government has imposed corona curfew and not a complete lockdown.
“Essential services are on. Labourers are not facing any problems as industries and businesses are functioning,” he said. The CM said that their motive is not to create trouble for people as the directives are clear that there should not be crowd in industries or anywhere so that poor can earn their living.
“Community kitchens have been arranged for the poor so that they should not die of starvation. Food is being provided to the relatives of patients as they wait outside government hospitals.  Free food grains distribution has also started,” he said, adding that 13,000 youths have been vaccinated in Saharanpur.