<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the Varanasi administration to step up the pace of work to reduce stress caused to patients after the religious city was overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>Modi reviewed the Covid-19 situation in his Lok Sabha constituency in a virtual meeting with the Varanasi administration and directed officials to provide all assistance to the public expeditiously.</p>.<p>“The Varanasi administration should step up the pace of work in all the fields in the same way it has rapidly set up the 'Kashi Covid Response Centre',” the prime minister told the district administration officials during the meeting.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/indias-covid-19-positivity-rate-doubles-to-1669-in-12-days-says-government-975759.html" target="_blank">India's Covid-19 positivity rate doubles to 16.69% in 12 days, says Government</a></strong></p>.<p>On Sunday, Varanasi reported 2,011 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths due to the infectious disease. There were heart-wrenching visuals of people queuing up for cremation of their near and dear ones at the cremation ghats in the temple town.</p>.<p>Modi said that expansion and modernisation of medical infrastructure in the city have helped in fighting the pandemic.</p>.<p>He asked the local administration to help people with full sensitivity and asserted that the cooperation of society, as well as the government, is necessary to curb the pandemic.</p>.<p>Modi said the availability of beds, ICU and oxygen facility is being increased.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-karnataka-maharashtra-delhi-tamil-nadu-kerala-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-vaccine-deaths-on-april-18-975700.html" target="_blank">Coronavirus India update: State-wise Covid-19 cases, deaths on April 18</a></strong></p>.<p>According to a statement from the PMO, the Prime Minister emphasised implementing 'tracking, tracing and testing' to check the spread of the virus in the same manner as the first wave of Covid-19 was curbed.</p>.<p>He also asked the administration to ensure that preventive measures like social distancing and the use of masks are practised.</p>.<p>“The prime minister underlined the importance of the vaccination exercise and asked the administration to raise awareness among everyone over 45 years about it,” the statement said.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the Varanasi administration to step up the pace of work to reduce stress caused to patients after the religious city was overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>Modi reviewed the Covid-19 situation in his Lok Sabha constituency in a virtual meeting with the Varanasi administration and directed officials to provide all assistance to the public expeditiously.</p>.<p>“The Varanasi administration should step up the pace of work in all the fields in the same way it has rapidly set up the 'Kashi Covid Response Centre',” the prime minister told the district administration officials during the meeting.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/indias-covid-19-positivity-rate-doubles-to-1669-in-12-days-says-government-975759.html" target="_blank">India's Covid-19 positivity rate doubles to 16.69% in 12 days, says Government</a></strong></p>.<p>On Sunday, Varanasi reported 2,011 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths due to the infectious disease. There were heart-wrenching visuals of people queuing up for cremation of their near and dear ones at the cremation ghats in the temple town.</p>.<p>Modi said that expansion and modernisation of medical infrastructure in the city have helped in fighting the pandemic.</p>.<p>He asked the local administration to help people with full sensitivity and asserted that the cooperation of society, as well as the government, is necessary to curb the pandemic.</p>.<p>Modi said the availability of beds, ICU and oxygen facility is being increased.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-karnataka-maharashtra-delhi-tamil-nadu-kerala-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-vaccine-deaths-on-april-18-975700.html" target="_blank">Coronavirus India update: State-wise Covid-19 cases, deaths on April 18</a></strong></p>.<p>According to a statement from the PMO, the Prime Minister emphasised implementing 'tracking, tracing and testing' to check the spread of the virus in the same manner as the first wave of Covid-19 was curbed.</p>.<p>He also asked the administration to ensure that preventive measures like social distancing and the use of masks are practised.</p>.<p>“The prime minister underlined the importance of the vaccination exercise and asked the administration to raise awareness among everyone over 45 years about it,” the statement said.</p>
