As a precautionary measure, the PGIMER has shut down OPD services on Thursday till further orders.
A spokesperson said that screening OPD for COVID19 will continue in the New OPD block and emergency area. No elective surgeries will be performed from March 21 till further orders.
All the emergency services will continue as usual in all the emergency areas, the spokesman added.
On a daily basis, around 10,000 patients visit the various OPDs of the PGIMER to avail its different services.
The GMSH-16 has announced that the OPD of Dermatology Department, Orthopaedics, Surgery, Eye, Physiotherapy, Psychiatry, Dental and evening OPD will remain closed to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 till March 31. The emergency services/trauma unit and OPD of Obst & Gynaecology, Paefiatrics, Medicine and Emergency will continue to work. Only sick patients requiring emergency care may visit the hospitals for treatment at Govt Multi Specialty Hospital Sector 16, Civil Hospital Manimajra, Civil Hospital Sector 45 and Civil Hospital Sector 22, said a spokesman.
PU SUSPENDS WORK
In view of positive case of Coronavirus reported in Chandigarh, the Panjab University will remain closed till March 31. All teaching work and shall remain suspended and faculty members have been asked not to visit the campus and stay in touch with students through telephone, social media. Earlier, classes were suspended by PU.
The PU on Thursday also banned entry of outsiders in the hostels. The University has also decided to open gate number one from 8 am to 9:30 am and from 5 pm to 6 pm in the evening.
Residents staying in the hostels have been asked to carry their identity cards all the time for checking while entry into the hostels. Apart from this, it has been decided that canteens in all the hostels will remain closed. Workers working in the canteens/messes which are closed, have been asked to leave the hostels. All shops in the hostels will also remain closed.
The PU Administration has decided that health check of workers will be got done from the University Health Centre. One mess in each hostel except boys hostel no.8 and international hostel will remain open. Also, heavy fine will be imposed on Contractors found packing and providing food to the outsiders and their contract may be cancelled.
It has also been decided that raw salad, vegetables, cut fruits will not be provided to the residents in PU premises.
HAND SANITIZER DEVELOPED BY PU TEAM
A team at the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University has developed a laboratory made sanitizer which can be used to protect against viral and bacterial strains. The team of research scholars that have developed the sanitizer is led by Dr. Rohit Kumar Sharma under the mentorship of Prof KN Singh, Chairman, Panjab University. The developed sanitizer consists of solution of isopropyl alcohol/ethanol with additions of glycerol, hydrogen peroxide and deionized water as per WHO recommendation. The initial aim of developing this sanitizer free of charge is to provide it for the university employees such as gate keepers and other employees who are in first line of public dealing. Dr Rohit Sharma said that the cost of alcohol raw material for such sanitizers has suddenly increased in last few days as the stocks have started depleting due to less supply from the distributors. This has also led to manifold increase in cost for preparation of such sanitizers. He Sharma said that such sanitizers can be provided to the general public by the university if the UT Administration can help in making sure that the raw materials are supplied in sufficient quantity in coming days.