New Delhi: As the everyday fresh Covid-19 cases went over 2.17 lakhs and the death toll reached 1,185, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired an extensive evaluation conference to make sure appropriate medical grade oxygen supply in the nation.

The meeting happened a day after India chose to import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to lower the shortage of materials.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar and Karnataka CM B.S.

Yediyurappa were, meanwhile, among those who tested favorable on Friday.

Mr Yediyurappa has in reality tested favorable for the 2nd time in eight months and has been hospitalised.In the wake of the across the country surge in Covid-19 cases, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Evaluations on Friday postponed the ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 assessments till additional notice.

This comes two days after similar action by the CBSE board.

Throughout Friday's conference, the PM reviewed in detail the existing oxygen supply situation and predicted use in the coming 15 days throughout 12 high-burden states-- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The PM was informed that 4,880 MT, 5,619 MT and 6,593 MT have been assigned to these 12 states for fulfilling their predicted need as on April 20, April 25 and April 30 respectively.

The PM recommended an increase in the oxygen production capability of each plant.

The use of surplus stocks of oxygen in steel plants for medical use was also gone over.

The PM advised officials to guarantee smooth and free motion of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the nation.

The federal government has actually excused all inter-state movement of oxygen tankers from registration of permits to allow easier motion.

The PM was informed that states and transporters had actually been asked to ensure tankers walk around the clock, with drivers operating in shifts to ensure a faster turnaround, and sufficient capability to meet the surge in demand.

Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted to operate for 24 hours, with the essential safeguards.

The federal government is enabling industrial cylinders to be utilized for medical oxygen after due purging.

Nitrogen and argon tankers will be immediately allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to conquer the prospective scarcity of tankers.

The Centre has actually also decided to double the production of indigenously-made Covaxin by May-June and almost 10 crore Covaxin doses will be produced per month by September.

The Union ministry of science and technology said the capabilities of Bharat Biotech Ltd in Hyderabad along with other public sector units are being updated and financial aid is being supplied as a grant to the tune of around Rs 65 crores to Bharat Biotech's brand-new Bengaluru facility, which is being repurposed to increase the capability of vaccine production.

Three PSUs are also being supported to hike the capability of vaccine production.

These are Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, Mumbai, which will have the ability to produce 20 million dosages monthly; Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Hyderabad, and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Ltd based in UP's Bulandshahar.

On Friday Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and health secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the Covid-19 situation in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.

These 2 states, in addition to Maharashtra, are the three states that have more than one lakh active cases.

Both Chhattisgarh and UP are reporting a really high number of daily new cases and high deaths due to Covid-19.

The three states have actually been recommended to increase the variety of seclusion beds, oxygen beds, ventilators/ICU beds, ambulance fleet according to requirements, plan for adequate oxygen supply; and concentrate on mortality reduction by early recognition of favorable cases and adherence to nationwide treatment procedures.

Forbiding unneeded travel and crowding in public places through rigorous and reliable enforcement was stressed upon.

All states have actually been advised to utilize the medical facilities of essential Central institutions, the Indian Railways and public sector systems for dealing with Covid-19 patients.The ICMR has actually advised establishing more screening laboratories, consisting of mobile laboratories, in the affected states.

He also advised keeping a vigil and increase screening on a continuous basis in districts revealing more than a 5 per cent positivity rate.

The afflicted states were asked to ramp up RT-PCR testing, have timely tracing, containment and security activity to suppress the chain of transmission, and rigorous implementation of containment steps and motivate 100 percent vaccination of eligible population groups, especially in high-focus districts.

The Union health ministry has stated different mutations of the Covid-19 infection were found in many nations, including India, besides the UK (17 anomalies), Brazil (17 mutations) and South Africa (12 mutations) variations.

These versions have higher transmissibility.

The UK version has been found extensively in the UK, all across Europe and has actually infected Asia and America.

The double anomaly (2 mutations) is another variant and has been found in several nations like Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Namibia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, U.S.A..

The higher transmissibility of this variation is not established yet.

Officials said the RT-PCR tests utilized in India do not miss these mutations as the RT-PCR tests being utilized in India target more than 2 genes and sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR tests remains the like earlier.

This clarification came amid reports that RT-PCR tests may be missing out in the detection of altered variations and are turning incorrect unfavorable reports.