The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic had caught the Union government napping, but the Centre is fully prepared to tackle a possible third wave.
Reassuring the country, Union minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur said on Friday that a provision of Rs 23,123 crore has been made in case a fresh COVID wave the country in the next few weeks or months.
Since there is apprehension among several experts that a possible third wave could affect children more, extra emphasis is being given to strengthening paediatric care, said Thakur during ‘Jan Ashirwaad Yatra’ in home state Himachal Pradesh.
He added that Rs 35,000 crore has been set aside by the Narendra Modi government for free COVID-19 vaccination.
Thakur said that no one knew oxygen cylinders would be need of the hour when the second wave hit India. The government has taken lessons and now there are plenty of oxygen cylinders in the country, he informed.
