COVID-19: Haryana CM orders village isolation centers in each district
Taking note of the recent increase in COVID-19-infected patients in rural areas, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday directed all the deputy commissioners to set up village-level isolation centers in 50 or more villages (if there are hotspots) in each district over the next two days. He said that proactive steps are being taken to ensure proper treatment for each COVID-19 patient.
Prioritize hotspots for such centers: Khattar
During a meeting, Khattar asked the Deputy Commissioners to subsequently submit the action taken report to the office of Director General, Development, and Panchayats. Khattar said that the deputy commissioners will set up the village isolation centers on priority in the hotspots of the district.
Services of village secretaries will also be used
Khattar further added that the Chief Election Officers (CEOs) of Zila Parishads will be the nodal officer of these centers while block development and panchayat officers will be among those to assist the deputy commissioners in setting up these centers. Besides this, the services of village secretaries (gram sachivs) will be utilized to establish and supervise these centers.
COVID-19 spread is hitting rural areas hard: Khattar
Khattar, had earlier this week said that COVID-19 spread is not confined to urban areas only but also hitting rural areas hard. On Wednesday he further stated that 50 hotspot villages will be identified by the CEO, ZP, and the block development officials in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer and the DC in the first phase.
Buildings with toilets, electricity may be converted into isolation centers
Buildings with the facility of toilets and electricity like schools, panchayat ghars, or community centers may be converted into village isolation centers. The Chief Minister said that these centers should be well-equipped with beds and other infrastructure and added the health department will provide essential medicines and medical equipment. The health staff will supervise the patients and shift the serious patients to health centers.
Special teams to conduct door-to-door health check-ups
"From increasing the number of oxygen beds in hospitals, setting up new oxygen plants, isolation centers, and COVID-19 care centers, the state government is leaving no stone unturned to provide adequate health facilities to every patient," said Khattar. "However, to combat the spread of COVID-19 in rural areas, special multidisciplinary teams have been constituted to conduct door-to-door health check-ups of villagers," he added.
110 state transport mini buses converted into ambulances
Khattar also sought suggestions and feedback from ministers and officials who have been assigned the responsibility of coordinating and monitoring the COVID-19 management measures, especially in relation to health infrastructure and availability of medicines, in the districts assigned to them. Khattar said that 110 mini buses of Haryana State Transport have been converted into ambulances, and five ambulances are being sent to each district.
25 buses will provide health facilities in villages
Khattar also said that 25 state transport buses will be used to provide health facilities to the people living in rural areas. These buses will be equipped with primary health facilities, including oxygen, and other equipment for patients in villages. The Chief Minister was apprised by officials that the Health Department will be conducting around 60,000 coronavirus tests per day.
Haryana reported 12,490 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday
Khattar said that during rural health check-up drive more focus would be given toward conducting rapid antigen tests along with ensuing RT-PCR tests. Haryana on Wednesday reported 12,490 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the state tally to 6,52,742. Haryana has so far recorded 6,075 COVID-19 deaths.
