Despite the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients improving and now pegged at above 90 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials concerned to ensure preventive measures and proper treatment activities.
At least 2,778 fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported across the state on Wednesday while 3,736 people recovered. With Wednesday’s tally, the confirmed coronavirus positive cases in UP has reached 4.44 lakh out of which 4.01 lakh have recovered and 36,898 are admitted in hospitals or are undergoing treatment in home isolation. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has also reached 90.24 per cent.
Chairing an Unlock review meeting in Lok Bhawan here on Wednesday, the chief minister said that senior Health officials should regularly interact with Health officers in Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut and Mathura to provide guidance.
“To control coronavirus infection more effectively, contact tracing should be further ramped up and for this, surveillance teams should work actively,” he said.
Directing officials to increase the number of beds in ICUs of SGPGI, KGMU and RMLIMS, the chief minister said that there should be no laxity until a vaccine for COVID-19 came.
“Ensure working on the lines of ‘Jab Tak Dawai Nahi, Tab Tak Dhilai Nahi’. Besides, ensure active ambulance services to facilitate treatment of COVID-19 patients,” the chief minister said.
Yogi said that policemen should use masks, gloves and sanitisers while carrying out enforcement activities to prevent infection.
“The paddy purchase centres set up under Maximum Support Price (MSP) scheme should operate actively and more and more farmers’ produce should be purchased,” he said.
Directing officials to provide all assistance to farmers for more paddy purchase, the chief minister said that payment for the procured paddy should be transferred in the accounts of the farmers within 72 hours. He said for proper check on the prices of vegetables and pulses, the district magistrates should take appropriate action.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said that on Wednesday the number of recovered COVID-19 patients was more than the fresh positive cases, a trend that had continued for the 26th day.
Prasad said that there were 16,613 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in home isolation, 3,151 in private hospitals and the rest were recovering in government-run Covid hospitals.
He said till date, 2.45 lakh patients had preferred home isolation and 2.29 lakh had recovered in the state.
On Wednesday, Lucknow reported 279 fresh cases and seven COVID-19 deaths. It was followed by Gorakhpur with 173 new cases and three deaths, Varanasi with 100 cases and 4 deaths and Prayagraj with 151 cases and no death.
Meanwhile, the UP government announced to organise a special programme on Global Handwashing Day on Thursday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate a ‘handwash video contest’. People can upload their videos under # Haath Dhona, Roke Karona on Thursday. The interesting videos will be awarded.