Chandigarh, May 27: Punjab Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh on Thursday announced extension of the restrictions in the state tillJune 10, but ordered the limit on the number of passengers in personal vehiclesto be removed, in view of decline in the positivity and number of active Covidcases.
The Chief Minister has also directed the resumption ofelective surgeries in both government and private hospitals, as well restorationof OPD operations at all GMCHs in the state, in view of the improvement in theoverall Covid situation. It may be recalled that elective surgeries had beenstopped from April 12 to ensure adequate availability of beds and oxygen forserious Covid cases, but the Chief Minister has now allowed these to beresumed, subject to the condition that there shall, for the present, be noreduction in beds for L3 patients in the hospital.
Medical Education Minister OP Soni said three GMCs hadalready started 50% OPD operations, which will soon be scaled up to 100%.
On the issue of restrictions, the Chief Minister said it hadbeen decided to continue with the curbs on the advice of experts. He clarifiedthat while the limit on personal cars and two wheelers was being removed asthese are used mainly by family members and close friends, those on commercialpassenger vehicles and taxis shall continue to be in place at present. The DCswill also continue to be empowered to make any adjustments in opening ofnon-essential shops as are merited by local conditions, he said.
Asserting that the state could not afford to be lax despitesome easing of the situation, the Chief Minister directed the Health andMedical Education departments to continue strengthening the Covid careinfrastructure and facilities to deal with a possible third wave of thepandemic. He asked them to invest also in augmenting paediatric care and toseek 500 paediatric ventilators from the Government of India. The meeting was informed all the 809 ventilatorsreceived earlier under the PMCares Fund had been distributed and 136 of themwere not working.
The Chief Minister also ordered creation of more technicaland specialists posts to meet the demands of the possible third wave. Dr RajBahadur informed the meeting that the recruitment of doctors and nurses hadbeen almost completed, while the process for procurement of equipment for themakeshift hospitals had also started. All mid-level IAS/PCS transfers in all departments should be put on holdtill the Covid crisis continues, directed the Chief Minister.
Taking strong note of overcharging by some privatehospitals, the Chief Minister warned that profiteering and fleecing of patientsamid such a crisis will not be allowed at any cost. He directed the Health andMedical Education departments to ensure that hospitals display huge (11’x5’)boards at the entrance displaying rates.
Reviewing the Covid situation with top health experts andofficials, as well as police and administrative officers, Captain Amarinderdirected close and continuous monitoring of high risk individuals and pregnantwomen in home isolation through special teams.
Given the comfortable Oxygen situation in the statecurrently, the Chief Minister also directed that Oxygen may now be allowed tobe used for essential non-medical purposes, with a 3-day buffer stock ofmedical oxygen, however, to be maintained at all times. He noted withsatisfaction that oxygen concentrator banks were now present in every districtfor post covid care patients who have a doctor’s prescription. The control roomhad ensured that there was no shortage of Oxygen in any hospital, he said,adding that the demand in the state had come down from 304 MT to 236 MT in thelast 10 days.
Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan apprised the Chief Minister onthe situation with respect to availability of Oxygen, and said the nitrogenconversion plant at Barnala Covid Centre had become operation in coordinationwith PPCB, with 93% purity.
The Chief Minister also ordered ramping up of testing andsampling in the rural areas to ensure early identification and treatment ofinfected persons, as part of the Corona Mukt Pendu Abhiyan. He expressedsatisfaction that almost 1.4 Crore individuals (37 lakh households) had alreadybeen screened in these areas.
Health minister Balbir Sidhu said the situation in the ruralareas was bad mainly because people were going to hospitals late. HealthSecretary Hussan Lal said the positivity rate in rural areas was 4%, withpeople there shying from testing and coming forward only when faced with severesymptoms.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said enforcement of restrictions,especially on gatherings, was being strengthened in the rural areas, whereCovid was spreading fast. He further disclosed that 6400 cooked meal packageshad been delivered in the last two weeks since the launch of the BhojanHelpline for Covid affected families.