Additional vehicles to be provided to transport Covid patients under treatment at home to hospitals : Jai Ram Thakur

Shimla : Dedicated vehicles would be provided in identified Community Health Centres to transport the Covid-19 patients under home isolation to health institution for treatment, if required. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the meeting with senior officers of the State Government here today.Chief Minister said that it has been felt that if in any case the covid patient under treatment at home are required to be shifted to the hospital for treatment, may face difficulty in getting a proper vehicle for transportation to hospital. He said that these vehicles would be fitted with a fiber glass to separate the driver cabin from the rear seat. He said that this would facilitate the patients in a long way particularly in rural areas. He said that two vehicles would be provided in every such institution to facilitate the patients. He said that in addition to this, as many as 30 ambulances have been added from the districts to supplement the emergency services.Chief Minister said that walk in Kiosk have been placed in few places of the State to collect the samples of the people. He also asked the officers to ensure wide publicity of the same so that general public could derive benefit of the same.Jai Ram Thakur said that effective mechanism be evolved to ensure atleast one telephone call of a doctor to a patient under treatment at home to enquire about their health. He said that this would not only help in effective information about the health parameters of the patients, but also help in boosting the morale of the patients.
He said that the employees of Chief Minister Helpline-1100 to make phone calls to Covid-19 positive patients, to boost their morale to fight the virus and to ensure their wellbeing. Chief Minister said that there was no dearth of dedicated covid beds in the State and oxygen cylinders/ facilities were also available in sufficient number. He said that the decision of not allowing more than 50 persons in any social function must be implemented in letter and spirit. He said that the State Government has increased the covid testing in the State to ensure effective tracking of the patients and to avoid any further spread of the virus. He said that as many as 96,657 and 1,35,100 tests were done during the month of October and November as compared to 31,035 and 42,331 tests done during the month of April and May respectively. As many as 29176 tests have been done till date during the month of December, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that all the Covid wards must have adequate arrangement of hot water and steamers to facilitate the patients. He said that special care must be taken to ensure clean toilets for the patients.Health Minister Dr Rajiv Saizal also gave his suggestions on the occasion.Chief Secretary Anil Khachi assured the Chief Minister that the State Government would strictly implement the SOP of the Government to check spread of the pandemic.Secretary Health Amitabh Avasthi said that four pre fabricated Covid hospital were coming up in the State which would be completed within a fortnight. He said that this would substantially add to the bed capacity for covid patients. He said that although the number of Covid patients have increased sharply during the last few days, but this was also as a result of very large number of tests being conducted.Additional Chief Secretary Revenue R.D.Dhiman, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister J.C.Sharma, DGP Sanjay Kundu and other senior officers attended the meeting.