Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the Centre has allocated an additional 25 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to Haryana on the request of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
With the additional supply, Haryana's quota for medical oxygen has increased to 257 MT, said an official spokesperson here on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Panchkula, regarding the status of oxygen in the State, Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar said that a special train of oxygen from Odisha has arrived and oxygen will soon be supplied to the hospitals as per the requirement and demand. First priority will be given to Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat and other affected districts of NCR, he said.
At the same time, while answering another question regarding vaccination, the Chief Minister said that today some consignment of vaccine has arrived in Haryana.
Earlier, keeping in view the sudden increase in demand for medical oxygen in the hospitals across the state, Khattar had urged the Central government to increase oxygen supply quota of the state after which an additional 25 MT of medical oxygen has been added, said the spokesperson.
While ensuring uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen throughout the state, the CM has been conducting back-to-back meetings with senior officers of every district and directing the officers concerned to make the state''s quota of medical oxygen available to the public at the earliest, said the spokesperson.
Two oxygen tankers were airlifted to Bhubaneswar on Thursday and two more were airlifted on Friday. Once these oxygen tankers arrive, it is expected that there will be enough oxygen in Haryana, the spokesperson further said.
Haryana on Friday registered a sharp surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities with the state recording its biggest single-day jump of 98 deaths, raising the toll to 4,216, while 13,833 fresh infections pushed the tally to 4,87,978.
5 IAS AND 3 IPS OFFICERS WITH MBBS DEGREE DEPUTED FOR COVID DUTY IN HARYANA
With Haryana government decision to engage IAS and IPS officers having a degree in medicine to help the State Government in tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, five IAS and three IPS officers having MBBS degrees have been deputed for COVID-19 related duties.
An official spokesperson said that the names of IAS officers having MBBS qualification whose services would be utilized for COVID-19 related duties include, Dr. Chander Shekhar Khare, Director and Special Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Department, Dr. R.S. Dhillon, Director, Haryana Governance Reforms Authority and Managing Director, CONFED, Dr. Sangeeta Tetarwal, District Municipal Commissioner, Sirsa, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jind, and Dr. Vaishali Sharma, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Naraingarh.
Meanwhile, the State Government has also decided to utilize the services of three IPS that include, Dr. Dheeraj Kumar, DCP, South Gurugram, Dr. Anshu Singla, DCP, NIT, Faridabad and Dr. Arpit Jain, DCP, Ballabhgarh, Faridabad. The spokesperson said that the services of these IAS and IPS officers are placed at the disposal of the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department for creation and running of 500 bedded hospitals at Panipat and Hisar. Running of 100 bedded facility at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, Faridabad and any other duties, as required from time to time.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND CO-MORBID EMPLOYEES EXEMPTED FROM GOVT DUTY
Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Haryana Government has decided that persons with severe disabilities (Divyangjan) and vulnerable persons -- employees suffering from hypertension, blood pressure, Heart or Lung disease, cancer and other chronic diseases and Pregnant women employees whether regular, contractual, outsources, daily wages or ad hoc shall not be called for duty, even if, they are engaged in essential services.
As per the decision, if required, they can work from home, provided they have the necessary infrastructure to the same. This exemption will remain in force till further orders.
An official spokesperson said that keeping in view the prevailing situation due to COVID-19 Pandemic and with an aim to break the infection chain and safety of Persons of certain categories, the Government has issued detailed preventive measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)- Guidelines for protection and safety of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), vulnerable persons and Pregnant Women.
He said that as presently there is a surge in numbers of COVID-19 cases and therefore, it is imperative to put in place strict measures to prevent the virus spread therefore these instructions may be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.
STATE AND DISTRICT UNITS OF IMA TO COOPERATE IN TREATMENT OF COVID PATIENTS, SAYS VIJ
Haryana Health and Home Minister, Anil Vij on Saturday said the state and district units of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will cooperate in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state. For this, he is expected to get a roster of doctors soon.
Holding a meeting through video-conferencing with the state and district units of the IMA, Vij said that we have to work jointly to overcome this national disaster. The Health Minister in the meeting appealed to the IMA physicians working in the private sector to cooperate in increasing the capacity of additional beds in the districts and help in the treatment of patients. He said that IMA physicians can give shiftwise duty in their districts, so that patients' problems are resolved. Along with this, the Director General of Police has been instructed to increase security in all hospitals.
The Health Minister said that a COVID-19 Committee has been constituted at the state and district levels, which is ensuring proper arrangements by taking COVID updates. Similarly, the state level COVID Monitoring Committee is also working at the state level. The state level committee will include the state president of Haryana IMA, Dr. Karan Punia and IMA presidents of all districts as members in district level committees. He has appealed to the Haryana IMA to submit a list of doctors willing to serve in different districts by Monday to the concerned Deputy Commissioner or Civil Surgeons.
Chief Secretary, Health, Rajeev Arora said that a three-member committee has been constituted for allotment of Tocilizumab medication. The Tocilizumab and Remdesivir medicines will be made available free of cost in government hospitals and at MRP in private hospitals. Also, the supply of oxygen in the hospitals of the state is constantly improving. He said that the suggestions given by IMA will be implemented soon.
President of Haryana IMA, Dr. Karan Poonia assured that the doctors of the district units will stand up to the appeal of the Health Minister and will soon provide the services of IMA doctors in the districts. For this, a roster will be prepared and efforts will be made to provide services of Chest, Anesthesia and other doctors to Covid patients. He also appealed to the IMA presidents of the districts present in the meeting to help them get out of this crisis.