— HEALTH MINISTER URGES PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS, MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
— DR BALBIR SINGH DIRECTS OFFICIALS TO BE FULLY PREPARED TO TACKLE POSSIBLE SURGE IN COVID CASES
Chandigarh, April 11:
With the cases of Covid-19 rising rapidly across the country, mock drills were conducted at hospitals in Punjab on Monday and Tuesday, to ascertain the Covid-19 preparedness and to effectively tackle any kind of exigency. The two-days exercise was part of the nationwide mock drill as per the directions of the Union Government to ensure the Covid preparedness at both public and private health facilities.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who has been constantly reviewing the situation, directed all the Health officials to be fully prepared to tackle any kind of Covid related medical exigencies. He also instructed all the Health Institutions to maintain adequate stock of medicines, besides, having requisite health infrastructure including bed capacity and ventilators, face masks, PPE kits, oxygen cylinders, oxygen plants etc. He has also asked the health department to ramp up the covid testing immediately.
Although the situation is under control and people need not to panic, Dr Balbir Singh urged people to strictly adhere to the health and safety protocols including social distancing, proper wearing of masks and washing hands frequently to contain coronavirus. “If anyone has a cold, fever, or cough, do not go to public places, and wear a mask when you go out. People who are sick, have low immunity, at least they should not leave the house and avoid going to crowded areas,” he further added.
Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Adarshpal Kaur apprised the Minister that Punjab has earmarked approximately 15000 beds for Covid patients in private as well as government health institutions and sufficient number of oxygen cylinders, LMO tanks and PSA plants are available to cope with any untoward situation.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister also appealed to people to not get swayed away by the rumours.
