Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases at a fast pace in Chandigarh, the Central Government will review the grim situation arising from pandemic in the union territory on Tuesday.
A review meeting will be held with the Secretary of Home Ministry through video conferencing on Tuesday. The last review meeting was held on September 14.
The union territory of Chandigarh is among the worst affected areas with the high positivity rate and growth rate in COVID-19 cases in the country.
The total positive cases stood at 8245 while the death toll has reached 95 in the union territory on Monday. 3899 positive cases and 39 COVID-19 fatalities have been reported in the month of September in the city and the infection has spread to all sectors and villages of Chandigarh.
“A review meeting will be held with the Centre on Tuesday regarding the current situation in the city,” said a senior UT officer.
“A meeting was held here on Monday with the two-member team of medical experts deputed by the Centre in Chandigarh. Discussion was held on containment zones and the surveillance system,” the officer said.
In the last meeting held on September 4 with the UT Administration, the Centre had expressed concern over the sudden surge in positive cases and grim COVID-19 parameters of Chandigarh. The Central Government had then on September 6 deputed a two-member team of medical experts to assist the UT Administration in COVID related operations and contain the spread of infection in the city. As per the Centre’s unlock 4.0 guidelines, the Administration had lifted night curfew, odd-even system in markets and also, weekend closure of Sukhna Lake in the city. Meanwhile, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, during his war room meetingdirected the Administration to focus on more IEC activities for making the citizens aware of the hygienic practices and mask wearing.
He appealed to the all residents to maintain self-restraint and not to come out, unless absolutely necessary. The Administrator stated that the onus is now on the residents to keep themselves safe by strictly following COVID protocol.
PGIMER TO RECEIVE 20 MORE VENTILATORS FROM CENTRE
Director PGIMER, Prof Jagat Ram said that the number of ventilators have now increased to 45 in the institute. These good quality ventilators from BEL are working fine. 20 more ventilators are likely to be received from the Central Government, he informed.
The Administration had recently requested 40 ventilators from the Centre. PGIMER has received 10 additional ventilators while Administration received 20 ventilators for COVID Patients.
Dr BS Chavan, Director Principal, GMCH-32 informed that the Medical College will start antigen testing shortly. They have already received 2,000 kits for antigen testing from the Administration.
It was further informed that screening of persons is being done in Raipur Kalan, Railway Station and ISBT to detect symptomatic persons, if any in the city.