To impart quality health treatment to every COVID-19 positive patient, Punjab Government has deputed 22 IAS, IFS and PCS officers as Covid Patient Tracking Officers (CPTOs).

“Amid increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the State, the State Government has designated these officers as CPTOs to ensure coordination and expeditious response at the district level by tracking of patients from the time that they test positive till the completion of their treatment,” said the state Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan.

She said that these officers would perform their role as CTPOs in addition to their current duties and will report to the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

Besides, ensuring he or she receives details of each positive COVID-19 patient as soon as the result is declared by the Lab, the Chief Secretary said that CPTO should also follow up with the labs to ensure that there is no undue delay in sharing of results and will get in touch with the positive COVID-19 patient immediately.

The CPTO shall ensure that each positive patient is brought to the nearest health facility through Rapid Response Teams or Health Teams so that their medical condition can be assessed, and the future course of treatment can be finalized.

If a person is asymptomatic and without any co-morbidity, he is referred for Covid Care Centre or Home Isolation (subject to his fulfilling the criteria laid down by Health Department). The patient may also get admitted, if he so wishes to a suitable private hospital.

If a person is symptomatic or has a co-morbidity, he or she would be referred to Level-II facility (Government or Private). If he or she is in critical condition, he or she is immediately shifted to Level-III facility (Government or Private).

Regarding roles and responsibilities of CPTOs, Mahajan said that they shall be authorised to exercise their judgment and incur any expenditure required to save lives in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner.

The CPTO should have full list of availability of beds in Covid Care Centres, Government Hospitals and Private Hospitals as well as a list of availability of beds and ventilators for Level-III Treatment, she said, adding that the CPTO should have details of ambulance service providers-private and government sector. The CPTO should have good coordination with his counterparts in adjoining districts for any emergency referrals or requirements.

The Chief Secretary stressed that the CPTO shall ensure that each patient under home isolation is tele-monitored on a daily basis.

“RRTs should visit the patients as and when required. The telephone number of the District Control Room should be shared with the patient in case of any emergency referral. All such referrals should be properly recorded and reported to the CPTO,” she said.

As per the orders, CPTO should be well conversant with health protocols for Level-I, II, and III, Cremation Protocol in case of death, regularly attend meetings of medical experts held under the chairmanship of Dr KK Talwar.

 Besides, CPTO shall ensure that, in case of death of a COVID positive patient, the cremation or burial is done as soon as possible as per the state protocol.