Delhi Government fully prepared for the fight against COVID

CM Arvind Kejriwal personally monitoring the COVID situation; says no need to panic about Omicron, it spreads fast but is very mild in nature

India

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been at the forefront of Delhi Government’s fight against COVID and is personally taking stock of the situation. He said that there is no need to panic about Omicron and the Delhi Government is fully prepared for the fight. Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to allow administration of booster doses for fully vaccinated individuals. He informed that every positive COVID test will be sent for genome sequencing to determine which variant is on the rise.

The CM added that Omicron spreads rapidly but is very mild in nature as per experts. Delhi Government will further strengthen its home isolation program as well. CM Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the public to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and said our safety is in our own hands; request everyone to please wear a mask in public places.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “A meeting of the DDMA was held today under the chairmanship of the Delhi LG to discuss the COVID situation in respect of the Omicron variant. We assessed the impact and problems posed by the variant with experts. The experts have informed us that the Omicron variant spreads rapidly but is very mild in nature. One might get fever and other mild symptoms, the need for hospitalisation is very low overall and the chances of death are very low as well.”

He continued, “First of all, it is my duty to tell the people of Delhi that there is no need to panic over the virus. This is a very mild variant and even if someone needs to be hospitalised the Delhi Government is completely prepared for it. We have made adequate preparations for beds, oxygen, medicine and everything else that may be needed for the fight. We’ll not let the people of Delhi face any difficulty in their treatment.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal further announced, “After discussion with experts we have come to the conclusion that this time home isolation would be needed at large. We have thus decided to further enhance and bolster our home isolation program. Apart from this we have decided to get genome sequencing of each positive COVID test done to determine what variant is spreading among the patients at present. The number of positive cases kept coming on the lower side but yesterday we saw over 100 positive tests till now only the people coming to the airport were being tested for the variants. This will help everyone know what variants are on the  rise if COVID cases are spreading in Delhi.”

He added, “With folded hands I request and appeal to each and every resident to please wear their masks at all times in public places. We’ve seen how people have reduced the use of masks in markets. Our safety is in our own hands and masks are the best defence to COVID. Everyone must take the situation seriously and start wearing masks again.”

Appealing to the Central Government Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “We have vaccinated 99% of our eligible population with the first dose and about 70% with both the doses. The Delhi Government appeals to the Centre to allow the administration of booster doses now. Only the Central Government can take a decision regarding this so I request them to allow booster doses for all those who have been vaccinated with both the doses. We have complete infrastructure to administer booster doses. We can start with our healthcare workers and then the rest of the population.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier chaired a high-level meeting with all concerned authorities on 30th November 2021 to review the state’s preparedness against Covid. Among growing concerns about the new variant and its probable threat, the status of health facilities was addressed and orders were issued to increase these. Plans were carved for health services – beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines – to reach every ward and every single person in Delhi. It has been assessed that 30,000 COVID beds are ready in Delhi, with 100 beds per ward to be arranged as and when required on a 2 week notice taking the total bed capacity of Delhi to over 64,000 beds. Additionally, 6,800 ICUs will also be ready very soon. Medicine stocks are currently being added, and home isolation arrangements are being strengthened. The Delhi Government has issued a Covid helpline number – 1031, to help Covid patients during any problem. This helpline number works 24×7. It employs employees in three shifts, who can attend 600 to 700 calls.

The Delhi Government is also focusing on increasing manpower for Covid management, so that if the rate of infection picks up, there is no shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedic staff. For this, the Delhi government has given special training in Covid Management to medical students, nurses and paramedical staff along with specialist doctors. They have been given training in oxygen therapy, Covid Management, Paediatric Ward Covid Management.

The Delhi government has also roped in five thousand health assistants. Health assistants have been given basic training in nursing, paramedics, home care, blood pressure measurement, vaccination etc. Health assistants will work as assistants to doctors and nurses and will not be able to take decisions on their own. With their help, doctors will be able to work more efficiently and patients will also be taken care of very well.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the officers that there should be no shortage of medicines and equipment. He said that the purchase of essential medicines and equipment should be completed beforehand from now on. 32 medicines have been identified by the committee constituted by the Delhi Government and it has been mandated to maintain the buffer stock of these medicines for 60 days.

In addition, 8 drugs have been identified by the Central Government and as per their recommendations, it is necessary to maintain the buffer stock of these medicines for 30 days. Similarly, the demand for equipment will increase as beds increase. In view of this, the process of procurement has been started after identifying those equipment.

The Delhi Government will further strengthen its home isolation system. Patients with mild symptoms of Corona are being treated at home in Delhi. For this, the Delhi government has made a strong system under which, the team of doctors constituted by the Delhi government for the patients undergoing treatment in home isolation, gets health related information recorded by calling them every morning and evening. During this, the patients and the caregiver are given information about what safety measures are to be adopted. If the patient’s health gets serious, then the doctor shifts them to a hospital.

Delhi Government has issued a Covid helpline number — 1031, to help Covid patients during any problem. This helpline number works 24×7. It employs employees in three shifts, who can attend 600 to 700 calls. If there is an increase in the call number, the number of employees will be increased. By calling the helpline number, one can get oxygen cylinders, tele-consultation, pulse oximeters, medicine kits, vaccination information and information on availability of hospital beds, home isolation, ambulance services and tests.

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