Health Minister reviews departmental preparations

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Dec 03: Health Minister T.S. Singhdeo reviewed the preparedness in the state for its rapid detection and prevention in view of the new variant Omicron of the corona virus. He directed for strict monitoring of those reaching Chhattisgarh after traveling to other countries and making adequate arrangements for screening and necessary investigations.
He asked to increase the number of sample tests daily. Singhdeo also directed to expedite the corona vaccination. He asked to keep a tight-knit arrangement in all the hospitals while maintaining proper equipments and machines.
Dr. Alok Shukla, Principal Secretary, Health Department, said in the meeting held at New Rest House that detailed guidelines have been given to all the collectors for quick identification and prevention of new variants.
Setting up of help desks at all the three airports of the state, Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, as per the guidelines of the Central Government, taking information related to the screening of those coming from abroad, Covid-19 test report, vaccination and after coming to India, Quarantine and Corona symptoms.
Accordingly necessary action has been asked to be taken. He has been instructed to take information about the people coming from foreign countries on a daily basis in coordination with the State Surveillance Unit of the Health Department.
Dr. Shukla said that such persons who have not completed their seven-day quarantine period after coming to India, have also been directed to ensure that the seven-day home-quarantine is followed.
On the eighth day of these people getting the RTPCR test done and the report coming positive, the sample was sent to WGS. Instructions have also been given to send it for testing (Whole Genome Sequencing).
For the identification and monitoring of new variants, at least five percent of the samples that come positive in the RTPCR test daily to every district are sent to WGS have been asked to send for examination.
He informed that all the districts have been directed to speed up the corona vaccination and achieve 100% target as soon as possible and ensure strict adherence to the Covid Appropriate Behaviour.
Secretary of Health Department Mrs. Shehla Nigar, Director of Health Services Mr. Neeraj Bansod, Director of National Health Mission Dr. Priyanka Shukla, Director of Medical Education Department, Dr. Vishnu Dutt, Managing Director of CGMSC, Karthikeya Goel, General Manager, Rahul Venkat, Director of Epidemic Control, Dr. Subhash Mishra, Dr. RK Panda of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Dr. O.P. Sundrani and IDSP nodal officer Dr. Dharmendra Gahvai were also present in the review meeting.