As Covid-19 cases in the State continue to surge, with peak projections suggesting further increase in the coming weeks, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered ramping up of facilities in 13 districts with the maximum Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and augmentation of medical oxygen supplies from within and outside the State to ensure that there is no shortfall of the same.
Though the CFR, currently at 2.89 percent, has been progressively coming down, it is still higher than the national average, with 13 districts reporting the highest figures.
Nine of these districts — Kapurthala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Moga, SBS Nagar, and Ferozepur — account for the maximum CFR, requiring urgent upgradation of their Level III facilities in both government and private sectors, said the Chief Minister adding that most of the deaths are occurring in hospitals, with nearly half being reported from private tertiary care hospitals.
Expressing concern over the state’s high CFR, Dr KK Talwar, chairman of the state’s expert committee on COVID, also underlined the need to ensure optimal utilization of resources across the State, with adequate manpower and facilities as required in various districts.
The ICU occupancy in these GMCs is currently at 212 out of the total availability of 283, the Chief Minister was informed during a review meeting of the COVID situation in the state with top officials and health or medical experts.
Health Secretary Hussan Lal, in a brief presentation, pointed out that at 6.15 percent, Punjab’s cumulative positivity rate, as of September 20, was below the national average of 8.48 percent.
PUNJAB LAUNCHES COVID FATEH KIT
Scaling up the state’s fight against COVID-19, Punjab Government on Tuesday launched the Corona Fateh Kits, which will be distributed immediately to all virus affected patients in isolation, whether at home or in hospitals. While 5,000 of the 50,000 kits ordered by the State Government have already been received, the remaining supplies are expected within one week.
The Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, while launching the kit during a virtual COVID review meeting, directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that the deliveries are prioritized and all the 18,000 active patients in isolation receive the kits within the next one week. The kit consists of 18 items, including Pulse Oxymeter, Digital Thermometer, essential medicines and Kaadha, among others, along with educational material and instructions on use of medicines. Instructions for patients and caregivers are provided in the kit, which also contains a self-monitoring log chart.
The kit is aimed at ensuring regular self-monitoring of health indicators of all COVID patients in isolation to enable early identification of critical parameters for saving lives. Health Minister Balbir Sidhu said that the kits carry adequate information on their use and on proper monitoring of health. Dr KK Talwar said that the patients in home isolation over 60 years of age were a matter of concern and should be encouraged to come for hospitalization if they cannot get suitable home care and supervision.
TELE CONSULTING AGENCY FOR HOME QUARANTINE PATIENTS BY SEPT-END
The state Health Secretary Hussan Lal said that tenders had been invited by the Department for hiring a tele-consulting agency to monitor home quarantine patients in a more streamlined and thorough manner. The last day for submitting bids is September 23 and the professional agency, which will take over the home quarantine patient monitoring and follow-ups from 104, will be in place by the end of this month.
CAPT EXPRESSES SATISFACTION AT INCREASED TESTING IN RURAL AREAS, 40% PANCHAYATS PASS RESOLUTIONS BACKING GOVT EFFORTS
Expressing satisfaction at increased testing in rural areas with many Panchayats passing formal resolutions in support of the Government’s efforts to contain COVID-19, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered strict enforcement of COVID safety protocols and strengthening of the public awareness campaigns across the State.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the continuing violation by the people of the rules and protocols on COVID safety. The State Government had no option but to open up but people have to realize their responsibility, he said during a Covid review video conference, stressing the need to bring down the Case Fatality Rate (CFR), which continues to be higher for Punjab than the national average.
Taking serious note of people continuing to not wear masks and not giving up spitting on the roads despite the critical situation in the state, Capt Amarinder directed the state DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure punishment for those found violating the rules.
“Nobody knows how long the crisis will continue or what the disease’s side effects really are,” pointed out the Chief Minister, directing the concerned Departments to step up their efforts to spread public awareness about the problem.
Earlier, the DGP informed that 5,300 (40 percent) of the state’s Panchayats had passed formal resolutions backing COVID-19 testing, as a result of which the initial resistance shown by the public due to widespread disinformation campaigns had eased off.
Giving details of the number of police personnel impacted by the disease, Gupta said that of the 86 cops who had died due to the infection, 18 had been reported in September, with eight currently on ventilators. A total of 1,233 cops had tested COVID positive so far, he added.
The DGP further disclosed that the Police Department was appointing a nodal officer to expedite disbursement of Rs 50 lakhs compensation, as announced earlier by the Chief Minister, to the families of police personnel who had lost their lives in the fight against COVID.