New Delhi: ‘After every storm, the sun shines the brightest’ and this is what the scenario was of Uttar Pradesh when under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, over 14,000 patients were discharged from the hospitals after successfully combating the deadly coronavirus during the last 24 hours.
Despite tested positive for COVID-19, CM Yogi, who is rigorously working to strengthen the defense mechanism against the deadly coronavirus, said, “This is really good news that over 14,000 patients in the state have successfully won the battle against coronavirus and discharged from the hospitals yesterday,” adding that this pandemic has to be handled very patiently.
Making it very clear that neither his government would impose another lockdown nor let the people die in misery, Yogi, in a high-level review meet, said, “It is the officials’ responsibility to ensure beforehand that there is no shortage of hospital beds for the patients in the state.”
The Government said that it had already taken several measures to stop the spread of the virus, such as declaring containment zones (over 77,000 zones have been declared in the state), imposing night curfews, weekend bandh, and limits on gatherings.
Ensuring that people who do have to suffer because of lack of beds in the hospitals, the CM has given strict instructions to the Integrated Control Command Center to make the information regarding the empty beds in hospitals public. This will help patients to immediately get the treatment at the hospital.
As more people are getting infected with this virus, the demand for Remdesivir drugs has been increased in the state. To make sure the availability of this drug, Uttar Pradesh, will get 1000 more vials of Remdesivir by Thursday evening. The CM has also instructed the hospital administration to ask for any kind of help required by the Government.
Mask is must
People who roam around in public places without masks can prove to be fatal for themselves as well as society. Therefore, officials have been asked to be strict with such people and society should also be made aware of such careless people. In this regard, the government announced that a first-time offender would be levied a fine of ₹1,000 but thereafter, the individual would have to pay a penalty of up to ₹10,000 every time seen without a mask.
Each hospital should have at least 36 hours of oxygen back-up
During the meeting, CM Yogi, while taking a detailed review of the current availability of oxygen in the state, asked the officials to access the demand, review the availability of medical oxygen and maintain its adequate supply on a daily basis to ensure synergy across hospitals and the state government. Oxygen should be audited in all hospitals to keep the balance between the demand and supply of oxygen. The officials along with the police force should be deployed at the oxygen refill centers to ensure the supply of oxygen is done in a transparent manner, the Government stated.
Yogi Government also asked the Department of Health, medical education, industrial development, MSME, and Home to work in coordination so that there is no shortage of tanker/cylinder. Each hospital should have a minimum of 36 hours of oxygen backup.
No scope of black marketing in UP
Taking cognizance of the current situation, CM Yogi also directed the officials to check black marketing of remdesivir and other COVID-19 medicines, and invoke the stringent provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) and Gangster Act against those found guilty.
CM Yogi underlined that there is adequate availability of Remdesivir, FabiFlu, oxygen, and essential medical supplies, including personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, face masks, gloves, sanitizers, etc. Strict action must be taken against those who are indulged in the black marketing of such commodities.
Effective strategy to stop the spread
Emphasising testing, tracing, and treatment, the Chief Minister said, “Our priority has to be the implementation of an effective strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19. We will have to fight the pandemic vigorously with full preparation, as there is no scope for any sort of negligence in this fight.”
Testing should be conducted with full capacity. CM also directed to double the number of RTPCR tests by using the available RTPCR capability in the laboratories of the central institutes located in the state. Manpower should also be arranged according to the requirements of these institutions.
*KGMU and Balrampur hosps converted into ‘dedicated COVID hospitals’
In view of the surge in coronavirus cases, the state government has converted KGMU, Balrampur Hospitals, Era, TS Mishra and some other medical colleges and hospitals into ‘dedicated COVID hospitals’. Additional facilities including isolation beds, ventilators, BiPAP machines, and HFNC machines are being provided to the patients.
The CM also issued directives to double the number of Covid beds in all districts of the state. He ordered expansion of 200-200 beds in all districts with immediate effect.
Free arrangements for migrants returning to UP
Stepping up preventive measures in the wake of a spike in coronavirus cases, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the senior officials to conduct RT-PCR tests of the returning migrant workers on a war footing.
The state government is making free arrangements for the migrant workers returning home due to the lockdown in Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. It has also ordered the setting up of quarantine centres for migrant laboureres in every district of the state. These centres will have all the facilities for labourers returning to their home state and testing positive for Covid, including food and beverages along with medical aid.
It is noteworthy that the Yogi Government has decided to administer the Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all those above 18 years of age from May 1.
