New Delhi: As coronavirus cases surge in the country, several states are conducting mock drills to identify the surge or outbreak. The Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired a review meeting on April 7, and instructed states and union territories to stay alert and be prepared for COVID-19 management. Two-day nationwide mock drills are being conducted at various hospitals to evaluate COVID-19 preparedness.
The states and UTs were requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 100 tests per million, as of the week ending April 7 and further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests, news agency ANI reported. The ministry’s press release said,
States and UTs were briefed that India has been witnessing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending March 17, and weekly positivity up to 3.02 per cent in the week ending April 7.
Also Read: Jharkhand Seeks 50,000 COVID Vaccine Doses From Centre Amid Rise In Cases
Dr. Mandaviya also urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases, sending sufficient samples for testing of COVID-19 and influenza, and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples.
At the Delhi government-run hospitals, the exercise is being undertaken on Tuesday (April 11). Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the health department in the union territory is on “high alert” in view of the upward trend of COVID-19 cases.
Covid-19 cases will increase in Delhi, the health department is on high alert, but preparations are complete. Around 98 per cent of beds are vacant. Out of four deaths in Delhi yesterday due to Corona, three were due to different diseases combined with Corona. I believe that Corona cases will increase in Delhi in the coming days as it is densely populated.
He urged the citizens, who had a cold, fever, or cough, to avoid going to public places, and wear a mask when they step out. He further added,
People who are sick, have low immunity, at the very least, they should not leave the house and avoid going to crowded areas.
On Monday, Dr. Mandaviya reviewed a mock-drill for COVID-19 preparedness at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital in Delhi. In Tamil Nadu, Health Minister Ma Subramanian inspected a mock drill for emergency response for handling COVID-19 at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai. On Tuesday, a mock drill was conducted at the District Headquarters Hospital in Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu.
The mock drill of preparedness of COVID-19 was conducted today at District Headquarters Hospital in Tiruppathur, Tamil Nadu.#Covid19 pic.twitter.com/jGMqTUO3do
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) April 10, 2023
Minister Subramanian advised people to wear masks amid rising in Covid-19 cases in the state. Speaking in the Assembly today, the Health minister said,
About a month back, Covid cases were lesser. But recently, we’ve noticed a surge in cases. Not only in Tamil Nadu, many states across India are witnessing a sudden spike in infections. After assessing the prevailing situation, we have made masks mandatory in all hospitals from April 1. We are also urging the public to wear masks. As the Covid cases started to increase, Chief Minister (MK) Stalin ordered precautionary measures and we did as told.
In Haryana’s Jhajjar, a COVID-19 preparedness drill was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
In Gujarat, dummy patients were brought to various COVID-19 hospitals in ambulances and taken to designated wards by doctors wearing the PPE suit, and the availability of oxygen was also checked during a mock drill, to check the preparedness of the health system to deal with a surge in infections. The drill was inspected by state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel. The minister inquired about the availability of medicines, the functioning of ventilators, and the PSA oxygen plant at the civil hospital. Mr. Patel also took stock of the availability of beds and the functioning of the oxygen supply line from the PSA plant to beds in the wards.
In pictures: Nationwide Covid-19 mock drills are underway: Gujarat's largest Asarwa civil hospital assesses preparedness pic.twitter.com/LKipClCe3d
— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) April 10, 2023
Also Read: Puducherry Government Makes Wearing Masks Compulsory In Public Places
The mock drills were also carried out in the government-run hospitals across Maharashtra. At Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, among the biggest medical facilities in the state, one drill was held at the OPD and another in the wards, during which medicine stock, X-ray machinery, oxygen supply, and personnel deployment were checked. In Pune, a mock drill was conducted in Sassoon General Hospital, during which facilities like ventilators, oxygen, ambulances, test apparatus, and the availability of PPE kits and masks were checked.
On Tuesday, COVID-19 mock drills were conducted at different Health Facilities of Udalguri district and Tinsuka in Assam.
Covid 19 Mock drill at different Health Facilities of Udalguri district @dcudalguri @nhm_assam pic.twitter.com/X8IFX3kjT9
— National Health Misson, Udalguri (@NHM_Udalguri) April 11, 2023
COVID MOCK DRILL IN TINSUKIA…!! pic.twitter.com/XHhGYBcHYL
— National Health Mission Tinsukia (@HealthTinsukia) April 11, 2023
Another one was conducted at Goa Medical College to take stock of the preparedness, and it was reviewed by state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. He said,
We have received guidelines from Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Ji, which we will adhere to thoroughly to make sure we are prepared to handle any instance.
Amid the rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, we conducted a mock drill at GMC to take stock of the preparedness. We have received guidelines from Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Ji, which we will adhere thoroughly to make sure we are prepared to handle any instance. pic.twitter.com/eBwNbbg16j
— VishwajitRane (@visrane) April 11, 2023
In Gujarat, a mock drill was conducted at Guru Gobind Singh Govt. Hospital, Jamnagar.
COVID mock drill and inspection of Covid preparedness at G.G.G. Hospital, Jamnagar pic.twitter.com/hqld8XIraR
— GGG Hospital (@GGGHJamnagar) April 11, 2023
In Gurugram, Deputy Commissioner Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav inspected health resources at civil hospital and ESI hospitals during the Covid preparedness mock drill.
DC Gurugram Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav inspects health resources at civil hospital and ESI hospitals during the Covid preparedness mock drill. Let's all do our part by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing in crowded places to curb the spread of Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/3Vc8LdsoJr
— DC Gurugram (@DC_Gurugram) April 10, 2023
In Jammu and Kashmir, a mock drill was conducted on Tuesday at CHC DAWAR GUREZ. The drill was conducted under the supervision of BMO Gurez Dr Tahira and was attended by Healthcare workers and other concerned.
As part of Nation wide mock drill to deal with the recent spike in covid -19 cases a mock drill was conducted today at CHC DAWER GUREZ . The mock drill was conducted under the supervision of BMO Gurez Dr Tahira and was attended by Healthcare workers and other concerned. pic.twitter.com/ycVhF0eFCC
— Information & PR, Bandipora (@dicbandipora) April 10, 2023
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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