Relaxation of Covid appropriate behaviour, low testing rates and the emergence of a new variant of the virus may be causing spike in the infections in the country, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) warned on Monday even as several States and UTs held mock drills in Government and private hospitals to ensure the proper arrangements for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. The exercise will continue till Tuesday. This comes as India reported 5,880 new Covid cases on Monday, slightly increasing from Sunday’s count of 5,357, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry.
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya visited Delhi-based Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital to review a mock drill for ensuring Covid readiness of hospital infrastructure for management of the infections. He urged everyone to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour and curb any misinformation. According to an official from the Union Health Ministry, large-scale response was seen nationwide, where ministers and senior officials reviewed the preparations of facilities.
Availability of health facilities, trained health professionals, ambulances, testing equipment, referral services, human resources, etc, were examined in district hospitals, community and primary health centres, the central Health Ministry official said.
Doctors wearing PPE kits attended to dummy patients during the drill and availability of isolation beds, ICU beds, ventilator beds were also checked. Referral services and availability of ambulances, life support systems were examined and discussions were held with organizations providing ambulance services, he added.
At Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, among the biggest medical facilities in Maharashtra, one mock drill was held at the OPD and another in the wards, during which medicine stock, X-ray machinery, oxygen supply and personnel deployment etc were checked, according to a State official.
Meanwhile, the IMA has also cautioned against the use of antibiotics to treat seasonal colds and coughs. It recommends symptomatic treatment instead of antibiotics, as antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.