Himachal Government would adopt three pronged strategy to tackle the menace of coronavirus effectively in the State, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday.
Presiding over a review meeting of Health and Family Welfare and Ayurveda Departments here, he said the State Government would increase capacity of investigation of samples of coronavirus so that maximum people could be examined. The Government would also identify the three types of institutions where treatment of Covid-19 of people could be done---asymptotic people would be kept in Covid care centres, moderate symptomatic people would be kept in Covid Health Centres and severe symptomatic would be kept in Covid Hospitals.
Thakur directed the officers to ensure adequate availability of PPE kits, masks, ventilators etc. in the hospitals so that there was no complexity when the lockdown is over. He also discussed issue regarding homecoming of residents of the State from other parts of the country and directed the officers to prepare an effective plan in this regard.
The Chief Minister said that as many as 8847 persons had been kept under surveillance for coronavirus in the State so far, out of which 5637 people had completed 28 days of surveillance period and 3210 people were still under observation. He said that investigations of 280 persons for Covid-19 had been done in the State today out of which 40 samples have been found negative and report of 240 samples were still awaited. He said that 3994 persons had so far been investigated in the State for coronavirus.
Additional Chief Secretary Health R.D. Dhiman said that department had set up Whatsapp number 01792227328 to provide other health services to the people in addition to Covid-19. Secretary Ayurveda G.K. Srivastav said that Ayurveda Department would provide medicines to the senior citizens from the ayurvedic institutions itself.
Special Secretary Health Dr. Nipun Jindal made a presentation regarding preparedness of Health Department to tackle the pandemic of Covid-19.
Senior officers of Health Department also attended the meeting.
50 LAKH EX-GRATIA FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS
Himachal Government has decided to provide financial assistance to all those frontline workers fighting the pandemic in different capacities, who might be exposed to the Covid-19.
According to a notification issued here today, a spokesperson said that there was a need to provide financial security to all such employees and frontline workers who are involved in response, relief and containment measures of Covid-19. The State Government has decided that a sum of Rs 50 lakh would be paid as Ex-Gratia out of HPSDMA Covid-19 State Disaster Response Fund to the next of kin of those officers and officials working in the State Government (except health workers) i.e. regular, outsourced, contractual, daily wagers and employees of SEHB Society of Municipal Corporation Shimla engaged in sanitation activities and working in different capacities for response, relief and containment measures of Covid-19, in case of their death due to Covid-19 pandemic.
ONE MORE TESTS POSTIVE AFTER 5 DAYS IN HIMACHAL
After a five-day hiatus, Himachal Pradesh recorded a fresh case of Covid-19 on Thursday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 41, officials said.
A man from Sirmaur district tested positive, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said. His history could not be known immediately.
A total of 349 samples were taken for testing on Wednesday. Out of the total samples, the man from Sirmaur tested positive at Kasauli's Central Research Institute (CRI) in Solan whereas the rest of the samples tested negative. He has been admitted at ESI hospital in Baddi.
The number of active cases in the state is 17, whereas 18 have been cured.
Four patients were shifted to a private hospital outside Himachal Pradesh. Two people have died of Covid-19 in the State.