Extending the existing COVID-19 curbs till June 10, Punjab Government on Thursday decided to provide some relaxations in view of decline in the positivity and number of active caseload. At the same time, the Chief Minister has issued instructions to remain prepared for the “possible third wave”.
Among other things, the Government has decided to remove the limit on number of passengers in private vehicles, restoring elective surgeries, operation of full OPD, allowing use of oxygen for essential non-medical use.
The Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who took the decisions taken during the COVID review meeting, said that it had been decided to continue with the curbs on the advice of experts.
At the same time, he clarified that while the limit on personal cars and two-wheelers was being removed as these are used mainly by family members and close friends, those on commercial passenger vehicles and taxis shall continue to be in place at present.
The Deputy Commissioners will also continue to be empowered to make any adjustments in opening of non-essential shops as are merited by local conditions, he said.
The Chief Minister has also directed the resumption of elective surgeries in both government and private hospitals, as well restoration of OPD operations at all Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals (GMCHs) across the State, in view of the improvement in overall COVID situation.
Notably, the elective surgeries had been stopped from April 12 to ensure adequate availability of beds and oxygen for serious COVID cases, but the Chief Minister has now allowed these to be resumed, “subject to the condition that there shall, for the present, be no reduction in beds for Level III patients in the hospital”.
The state Medical Education Minister OP Soni said that three GMCs had already started 50 percent OPD operations, which will soon be scaled up to 100 percent.
Taking strong note of overcharging by some private hospitals, the Chief Minister warned that profiteering and fleecing of patients amid such a crisis will not be allowed at any cost. He directed the Health and Medical Education Departments to ensure that hospitals display huge (11’x5’) boards at the entrance displaying rates.
Reviewing the COVID situation with top health experts and officials, as well as police and administrative officers, Capt Amarinder directed the close and continuous monitoring of high risk individuals and pregnant women in home isolation through special teams.
O2 SITUATION COMFORTABLE IN PUNJAB
Given the comfortable Oxygen situation in the State currently, the Chief Minister also directed that Oxygen may now be allowed to be used for essential non-medical purposes, with a three-day buffer stock of medical oxygen, however, to be maintained at all times. He noted with satisfaction that oxygen concentrator banks were now present in every district for post COVID care patients who have a doctor’s prescription. The control room had ensured that there was no shortage of Oxygen in any hospital, he said, adding that the demand in the State had come down from 304 MT to 236 MT in the last 10 days.
CM ORDERS TO RAMP UP TESTING, SAMPLING IN VILLAGES
The Chief Minister also ordered ramping up of testing and sampling in the rural areas to ensure early identification and treatment of infected persons, as part of the Corona Mukt Pendu Abhiyan. He expressed satisfaction that almost 1.4 crore individuals (37 lakh households) had already been screened in these areas. The state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the situation in the rural areas was bad mainly because people were going to hospitals late. The state Health Secretary Hussan Lal said that the positivity rate in rural areas was four percent with people there shying from testing and coming forward only when faced with severe symptoms.
STATE TRYING TO PROCURE MORE VACCINES
Expressing concern over vaccine shortage, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was trying to procure vaccines from all possible sources to meet the sudden demand as more and more people were realizing that this was the only protection against the pandemic, especially in view of the fast-spreading strain that originated in UK.
APPREHENDING THIRD WAVE, PUNJAB TO SEEK 500 PAEDIATRIC VENTILATORS FROM CENTRE
Asserting that the State could not afford to be lax despite some easing of the situation, the Chief Minister directed the Health and Medical Education Departments to continue strengthening the COVID care infrastructure and facilities to deal with a possible third wave of the pandemic.
He asked them to invest also in augmenting paediatric care and to seek 500 paediatric ventilators from the Government of India. The meeting was informed all the 809 ventilators received earlier under the PM Cares Fund had been distributed and 136 of them were not working. The Chief Minister also ordered creation of more technical and specialist posts to meet the demands of the possible third wave.
Baba Farid University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Raj Bahadur informed the meeting that the recruitment of doctors and nurses had almost been completed, while the process for procurement of equipment for the makeshift hospitals had also started. All mid-level IAS or PCS transfers in all departments should be put on hold till the COVID crisis continues, directed the Chief Minister.