Asserting that novel coronavirus infection was under control in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued instructions to officials to increase tests, make dedicated hospitals in every district, and provide immediate treatment to influenza and COVID-19 patients.
In a high-level meeting with the officials on Monday, the chief minister evaluated ground level preparations and status of the vaccination campaign. He also enquired about new variants of novel coronavirus and that of influenza virus.
In the last seven days, 2.20 lakh tests were conducted and 265 novel coronavirus positive patients were found. There are currently 262 active COVID-19 cases in the state and all of them are recovering at home. The maximum number of cases have been found in Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Officers informed the chief minister that the condition of all the people found positive in a school in Lakhimpur was fine and they had been quarantined.
“In the upcoming days, the volume of people entering temples and other religious buildings will rise. The infection may spread in this circumstance. In such a situation, elderly people and people with serious illnesses should make every effort to limit their movement in crowded areas. In case they go out, they should wear a mask. People should be made aware of this. People should be made aware through the public address system,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister said that all resources were available in UP to prevent COVID-19. He said Covid dedicated hospitals should be identified in all 75 districts; all the oxygen plants set up last year should be functional; ventilators provided to hospitals should be active and paramedical staff should be deployed.
“Suspected patients of influenza should be monitored along with COVID-19. Test preparations by conducting mock drills in hospitals across the state on April 11 and 12," the chief minister said.
“ Every year in April, July, and October a special campaign is conducted with inter-departmental coordination for effective control of communicable diseases. Its new phase is starting from April 1 this year," the chief minister said, adding that making the campaign effective was a collective responsibility. “Along with government efforts, public participation is also important," he said.
"Concerted efforts should be made for sanitation and health security with inter-departmental coordination by Medical and Health, Medical Education, Rural Development, Urban Development, Women and Child Development, Agriculture, and Basic and Secondary Education departments. Ministers will be present in the districts during the campaign and will participate in various programmes with the general public. Cleanliness campaign should be started by Panchayati Raj and Urban Development departments through public cooperation," he said.
The chief minister also gave directions on 'School Chalo Abhiyan' starting from April 1 this year. "Like the communicable disease campaign, the participation of all public representatives including MPs, MLAs, zila/kshetra panchayat members and gram pradhans should be ensured in this School Chalo campaign," he said.
The chief minister said programmes like Swamitva, Gharauni, and Varasat had achieved success in providing great convenience to the general public. He said their updated status should be reviewed.
“So far more than 60 lakh villagers have been provided houses. Drone survey work has also been completed. Our target should be that by the end of this year all the eligible villagers get "gharauni" certificates, giving them ownership rights of their houses,” he said.
He also gave directions on easing traffic on the road.