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As there is an exponential increase in novel coronavirus positive cases in Lucknow, Law and Justice Minister Brajesh Pathak has written a letter to additional chief secretary (health) and principal secretary (medical education) saying the situation is very bad in the state capital and if it does not improve, lockdown should be imposed in the state capital.
"The infection is continuously increasing in Lucknow and the situation is getting worse. Hospitals do not have beds and people are not getting ambulances on time," Pathak said in the letter, painting a pathetic picture of the state of affairs of Lucknow.
Pathak wrote in his letter: "It is taking four to seven days to get the test report of the COVID-19 patients in Lucknow. Patients are not getting ambulance. It is reaching their houses after 5- 6 hours. Even it takes two days to get an admission slip from the office of CMO (chief medical officer)."
He also mentioned in his letter about the tragic death of historian Yogesh Praveen and how he did not get an ambulance in time.
"After Yogesh Praveen's health suddenly deteriorated, I personally spoke to the chief medical officer on phone and requested him to provide an ambulance immediately. I am sorry to say that the ambulance reached late for which he could not get timely treatment and died," the minister wrote in his letter.
He also said there was a shortage of beds in hospitals and test kits were in short supply.
"I spoke to a senior officer of the Medical Department a week ago, and he told me that the department needs 17,000 kits for examination every day, but only 10,000 test kits were being made available," he said.
"It is necessary that the number of Covid beds should be increased and adequate test kits should be given. Non-Covid patients suffering from serious diseases should get proper treatment immediately. If the situation is not brought under control a lockdown may have to be imposed in Lucknow," he said.