Given the sudden upsurge of COVID-19 infection cases in the state, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday sought expert opinion from medical experts, bureaucrats and police to effectively tackle the COVID-19 second wave.

Education Minister S Rajen, Advisor to CM (health) Dr Sapam Ranjan, additional chief secretary MH Khan, principal secretary (health) V Vumlunmang, commissioner (education-S) T Ranjit, director (health) Dr K Rajo, JNIMS director Proj K Bhimo, Shija Hospital managing director Dr Kh Palin, Babina Group managing director Dr Th Dhabali, Imphal West DC N Praveen, Imphal East additional DC Shamin Ahmad Shah, Imphal East SP H Jogeshchandra, Imphal West SP, K Meghachandra, and high ranking officers of the directorate of health services were present in the meeting held at CM’s secretariat.

During the meeting, CM Biren Singh sought technical opinion on key factors like manpower and material management, vaccination, nature of lockdown and containment zones, effective enforcement of SoPs among others.

The chief minister also assured the officials concerned that there would be no dearth of funds while instructed them to acquire the required equipment and engage manpower at the earliest. He also asked them to increase COVID-19 beds in their respective hospitals and re-activate COVID-19 Care Centres that have been closed down as soon as possible.

Singh also expressed the need to utilise the manpower of the education department in assisting the officials of the health department in suitable tasks like inquiring about home isolation patients.