By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 28 Nov: Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat reviewed the Covid-19 situation through video conference at the Secretariat here today, and directed that special efforts be made to reduce the Covid death rate. He instructed that a complete analysis be made of people who are dying whether due to Covid infection or due to any other disease or because of delayed arrival to hospital or for any other reason.
He further directed that any Covid patient if needs to be referred to higher medical centre, then this should be done without any delay at all. He observed that further efforts were needed to increase the recovery rate of Corona patients. The Chief Minister instructed the District Magistrates to increase the testing rate in their respective districts. Special priority be paid to conducting the RTPCR test he emphasised. If a person was found to be symptomatic but their antigen test was found to be negative, then they ought to be mandatorily be tested by the RTPCR method in order to ascertain the possibility of Corona infection. The CM further directed that the results of sample collected be certainly be made available within 24 hours in the urban areas and within 48 hours in the hills. He observed that the district administrations in Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Dehradun would have to make more efforts to control the spread of the infection. He further said that those being penalised for not wearing masks be essentially made available the masks as the objective of the administration was to protect people from Corona infection and not to earn revenue from imposing penalties. He directed strict action against officials penalising people but not giving the masks to the persons who had been penalised.
Rawat said that the coming months would be challenging in terms of winter conditions, upcoming Haridwar Kumbh and Yoga festivals and rising tourism activities. Keeping all these in mind, continuous awareness campaigns be conducted in the districts to prevent spread of Covid. People be made aware and told that they ought to call Covid Control Room at the given toll free number in case they observed or felt any symptoms of Covid infection. He further directed the health department to regularly monitor the health and symptoms of those in Home Isolation and pay visit to them. If any symptoms of Covid were found, then they be essentially tested for Covid infection and in case they refused, they be dealt with strictly. There was no room for any laxity on part of the administration till the Corona vaccine arrived and everyone was vaccinated. Full alertness and vigil needed to be maintained till then.
Chief Secretary, Om Prakash directed the officials to plan out in detail need for the corona vaccination. Regular meetings of District Task Force and Block Toast Force be held and the Corona situation be reviewed regurarly. All the data of Co-morbid, old persons, pregnant women, health and front line workers be maintained and updated regularly. Keeping in mind the possibility of vaccination to begin in coming months, the entire system of human resources be kept ready to carry out the exercise. True-nat testing needs to be further enhanced. Old Age and Co-morbid people hould be motivated to get hospitalised instead of home isolation in case any symptom was noticed in their respect.
DG Law and Order Ashok Kumar said that awareness campaign was being conducted by the police through various means at crowded places and tourist places to protect the people from Corona. In such places, thermal screening was being carried out. Secretary Health Amit Negi said that 99.89 percent of the high risk contacts had been tested in the state. 80 percent of Corona tests being conducted in the state were RTPCR tests. Sampling of visitors for Corona was being continuously collected at tourist sites. He said that all the District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers ought to also ensure that the non-covid health services were being provided in the government hospitals and health centres was being provided in a sincere manner. He said that CHC, PHC and other health facilities be strengthened further. Sufficient funds would be made available for this. Masks also be distributed for awareness through NCC, NSS children to make people aware of wearing masks.
Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, SA Murugation, Dr Pankaj Pandey, Mela Officer Haridwar Deepak Rawat, IG Abhinav Kumar, IG Sanjay Gunjayal, DIG Arun Mohan Joshi, Additional Secretary Yugal Kishore Pant, Director General of Health Dr Amita Upreti, all the District Magistrates, SSP and CMO were present through video conference.
