By OUR STAFF REPORTER
RISHIKESH, 29 Jan: Precautionary preparations have begun on the instructions of Director Prof Ravi Kant at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh in view of the outbreak of corona virus. According to the director, proper arrangements will be made at the institute to protect people from the virus. He asked people to be cautious rather than panic. On Wednesday, at a meeting chaired by Dean, Academics, Professor Manoj Gupta, it was decided to make necessary preparations for the outbreak of Corona virus. It would be ensured that there would be no infection from such patients to other people, so their registration would be arranged separately. In addition, OPD and IPD wards will also be arranged separately for suspected patients. It was stated that a team of the institute would coordinate with the nodal officer of the state government to test the patients suffering from the virus. Apart from this, arrangements for masks, etc., would be made to prevent infection. Public awareness programmes would also be organised by the institute to protect the common people from the corona virus. Regarding symptoms and prevention measures, Dr Prasan Kumar Panda of the Department of General Medicine said that the corona virus infects, both, animals and humans. Symptoms usually develop when a cold occurs. The feelings of being unwell like a runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, etc., are its symptoms. For people with a weakened immune system, such as the elderly and adolescents, the virus can cause more serious, respiratory tract diseases like pneumonia or bronchitis. It was stated that the human corona virus is transmitted from the most infected person to others. Coughing and sneezing spread by air and personal contact such as shaking hands with each other, touching an object or surface with the virus, then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes before washing one’s hands increased the possibility of it spreading. According to Dr Panda, there are currently no vaccines available to prevent human corona virus infection. Therefore, one should wash one’s hands regularly with soap and water and avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are ill. If a person is a little unwell, then they should stay hydrated, stay at home and relax the whole time. If people are worried about the symptoms of the disease, they should contact their healthcare provider. Dr Panda added that, in view of this, a lecture would be organised for the institute personnel on Saturday. Present at the meeting were Prof UB Mishra, Prof Pratima Gupta, Dr Anubha Aggarwal, Dr Deepjyoti Palita, Dr Gaurav Chikara, etc.
