Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Thursday chaired a meeting at Raj Niwas to review the preparedness measures to contain coronavirus outbreak in Delhi. The meeting was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Deputy Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain.
At the outset of meeting, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) made a detailed presentation regarding present status of COVID-19 in Delhi, action taken, availability of quarantine facilities, availability of hospital beds, steps already taken and other proposed measures to contain coronavirus.
In the meeting it was agreed that all activities of Delhi be segregated into essential and non-essential. All non-essential activities shall remain suspended. However, all employees to be available for work from home telephonically and online if need be. According to an official, directions were issued for the prevention and control of the coronavirus. "Mandatory thermal screening at public places likes malls, courts, offices, hotels, hospitals, residential complexes to be done. Efforts should also be made for thermal scanning of every person going in public space," the L-G directed.
"It is mandatory reporting of suspected positive cases of coronavirus at helpline numbers. The CATs ambulances should be available for picking up of suspects at thermal screening points if that person reports that he or she may have had recent contact with person who returned after visiting COVID-19 affected countries," said the L-G said.
""Permission for home quarantine people should be given only after stamping on hand and on undertaking do's and don'ts notified by the Government. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) office bearers, neighbours may be informed about the persons under home quarantine in that residential complex or area. A workable mechanism to make the neighbours and people aware may be devised," said L-G.
First Information Report (FIR) to be registered for violation of conditions by home quarantine person under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) as prescribed under Regulation 18 of the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 issued by Health and Family Department", the LG added.
"Private sector companies are also advised to work from home wherever possible. There should be contactless digital transactions. Public should be advised to practice social distancing and unnecessary travel unless emergency, particularly senior citizens, person affected with hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases," the L-G directed.
"Traffic police should stop using breath analyser while checking. There should be waiver of tax for hotel rooms for quarantined persons. A fine to be imposed on people spitting in public places," the L-G further directed.
"Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to be intensified by various means to contain the epidemic. Intensive public awareness campaigns and sensitization drives to be continuous to disseminate the modality of spread and prevention from infection," the L-G directed.
"Preparations should be made to map availability of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and ventilators in government and private hospitals," said the L-G. Further, the L-G advised that concerned district magistrates looking after quarantine of passengers may be strengthened by diverting staff from other districts and departments.
"Provision of mobile vans with essential commodities of daily use with essential medical items at different residential areas may be explored which will decrease the need of the people to visit market," L-G said.
"All Shopping Malls in city should be disinfected daily and shall also make provisions of availability of ample number of hand sanitisers at main entrance and individual shops for visitors. All entry should be allowed only after cleaning of hands with hand sanitisers," the L-G said.