No new patient of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported for fifth consecutive day in Uttarakhand on Monday. The state has so far reported 35 cases of the pandemic which has affected more than 9000 people in different parts of the country. Out of these 35 patients, seven patients have recovered completely and have been discharged from the hospitals.
Addressing media persons on Monday, the additional secretary, medical health and family welfare department, Yugal Kishore Pant said, “We are lucky that no new case of the disease surfaced in the state in last five days but it does not mean that the virus is not in the area. We have to remain vigilant and continue with the practice of social distancing and washing of the hands with soap at regular intervals till we are free from the virus,’’ he said.
Pant said that the 108 emergency ambulance service has been asked to pick up and drop the patients of suffering from critical diseases. He said that the State Government is continuously improving the health system in the State. “In the 16 dedicated COVID treatment centres in the state we have 110 ICU beds for COVID-19 patients. We are in process of adding 325 more ICU beds in these centres,’’ he said.
Pant informed that reports of 149 suspected patients were received by the department on Monday and all of them were found negative for the disease. He said that reports of 298 samples are still awaited. The authorities have so far taken swab samples of 1998 suspected patients for COVID-19 test. On Monday samples of 131 suspected patients was taken and sent to the lab for test. A total of 1814 people are under institutional quarantine while 447 suspected patients in hospital isolation. The authorities have sent 53862 people are in home quarantine in different parts of the state.
The Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), Riddhim Aggarwal said that the state government is making its preparation for worst has so far identified facilities to keep 20000 people in institutional quarantine. She said guest houses of GMVN, KMVN, sainik kalyan, ITBP and other departments would be used as institutional quarantine centres when needed. A nodal officer in every district has been appointed to check the preparedness of these centres.
She said that the SDRF and NDRF personnel providing training to those who are in frontline of battle against COVID-19 or are exposed to the disease. Aggarwal informed that the administration has identified and sealed 11 areas in the state to contain the spread of the virus.
