Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scale up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing facilities at Government and private hospitals across the country and make them free of cost.
Patnaik made the suggestion during a videoconference meeting of the PM with the CMs of all States over coronavirus containment and treatment. Patnaik also suggested for availability of protection equipments and masks for healthcare personnel.
Financial support for MGNREGS workers for at least 50 days and families covered under the National Food Security Act, additional instalments for farmers covered under the PM KISAN scheme, economic package for various sectors and construction workers and distribution of funds to the States in advance were other major suggestions of Patnaik.
He also appreciated the Central Government’s decision restricting international travel, airlifting Indians from coronavirus-hit regions of the world and availability of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).