Breaking: PM Modi to chair high-level meet on oxygen availability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a high-level meeting at 11:30 a.m. today to evaluate current coronavirus disease (Covid-19) preparations across the country, news agency ANI reported on Friday citing officials familiar with the development.

PM Modi will also oversee the availability of oxygen in the country ahead of a potential third wave of the pandemic, the agency added.

With many places complaining of oxygen shortage in hospitals during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a shortage of medical oxygen as the cases shot up in the last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of May.

PM Modi has been holding a number of meetings in this regard amid apprehensions of a third wave of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, India recorded a single-day rise of 45,892 new COVID-19 cases, taking its infection tally to 3,07,09,557, while the count of active cases increased slightly to 4,60,704 after being on a consistent downward trend for nearly 55 days. The death toll has climbed to 4,05,028 with 817 new fatalities being reported.

(With inputs of ANI)