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Striking a warning note, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that in view of recovery of a new Covid variant (Delta-plus), genome sequencing should start in those districts which share borders with states where the variant was found.
ICMR has claimed recovery of the Delta-plus variant Covid cases in Bhopal and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh.
At a review meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said, “Delta-plus variant has appeared in many states. We have to be very careful and a necessary strategy should be chalked out in consultation with the state-level Health Expert Advisory Committee.“
“In view of the confirmation of the Delta-plus variant in the states bordering Uttar Pradesh, genome sequencing should be done by taking samples from adjacent districts,” Yogi said and directed officials to provide  necessary facilities at KGMU in Lucknow for genome sequencing at the earliest to identify the presence of new variant of coronavirus.
The Health department was also asked to expedite the process of setting up PICU/NICU across the state. “Availability of all necessary equipment including Bipap machines, pediatric ICU, mobile X-ray machines should be ensured at the hospitals. There should be direct communication with their manufacturing companies to ensure prompt supply,” the chief minister said.
 Yogi was apprised that the first phase training of doctors and nursing staff had been completed and the requirement of  other health workers, pediatrician, nursing staff and technicians was being  assessed at the district-level to arrange for adequate human resources in view of the third corona wave.
It was also decided that all necessary useful medicines should be procured on the advice of health experts and officials were asked to complete the process within the next fortnight.
Meanwhile, a total of 229 new corona cases in Uttar Pradesh during the past 24 hours while 308 people recovered in the same period. At present, the number of active Corona cases in the state has come down to 3,552.
In the last 24 hours, 2.71 lakh Covid tests were done and till date a total of 5.62 crore Covid tests have been done in the state so far. The recovery rate of Corona infection in the state was 98.5 per cent.
In the meeting it  was apprised that a target of 1 crore vaccines has been set in the current month of June. So far this month, 97 lakh vaccine doses have been administered.  The target of administering a minimum of 6 lakh vaccines every day from June 21 to 30 is in progress.    So far, more than 2.80 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the state.
 The chief minister directed that work should be done with a target of administering a minimum of 10 lakh Covid vaccines every day from July 1.
Yogi said that the process of recruitment on the vacant posts of 69,000 assistant teachers in the Basic Education department should be completed smoothly.  “The schedule for the entire process has been set.  Keeping in view the convenience of the candidates along with following the Covid protocol, recruitment on vacant posts should be done in a time bound manner,” he said.