Updated: November 20, 2020 10:53:23 pm
The Haryana government has now decided to conduct at least 1,000 daily tests per district in these seven districts. (Figurative)
To combat a further increase in coronavirus infections in the state, Haryana has decided to increase testing for Covid-19 across the state, especially in the seven worst affected districts.
In Haryana, seven districts, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari, Hisar, Panipat, Panchkula and Ambala, have a positive Covid rate higher than the state average of 6.82%.
The state government has now decided to conduct at least 1,000 daily tests per district in these seven districts, while its goal is to increase daily tests statewide to at least 30,000 tests.
To take stock of the further increase in new cases, the Union government also dispatched teams to the worst affected districts in four states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Manipur.
As of Friday night, Haryana’s total count of Covid-19 patients had crossed 2,12,355 of which 1,90,067 patients had recovered and 2,138 lost their lives. There were still more than 20,150 active Covid patients in the state including 416 patients in critical condition. Among the critically ill patients, 358 were on oxygen support while 58 patients were on ventilators. Among active Covid patients, a maximum of 5,485 were in Faridabad, followed by Gurgaon (4,655), Hisar (2,125), Rewari (768), Panipat (464), Panchkula (496) and Ambala (390).
“On Thursday, we conducted more than 27,000 tests in Haryana and it will continue to increase in the coming days. The necessary instructions have been issued to all medical directors in the 22 districts of Haryana to ensure that a minimum of 10 to 15 contacts of each positive patient are identified within 24 to 72 hours and isolated according to Covid- guidelines. 19. Medical chiefs have also been instructed to visit all schools, bus stops, train stations and other crowded places in their respective jurisdictions to verify that all SoPs are followed with adequate testing facilities available ”, ACS (Health) Rajeev de Haryana. Arora told The Indian Express.
The Minister of Health, Anil Vij, chaired a meeting of the officials of the State Department of Health, Education and Medical Research, National Health Mission, Urban Local Organizations, DGP, all directors of medical faculties and civil surgeons through videoconferences and discussed the new measures needed to be taken to curb the wave of new cases of Covid-19 infections.
Medical chiefs have also been asked to conduct scope test camps in open areas that adhere to appropriate Covid behavior. Vij also asked CMOs to ensure regular follow-up of all isolated patients at home by healthcare providers.
“A Covid aftercare research center has also been established at the Rohtak PGIMS to address the issues faced by patients recovering from infection. Nuh, director of Nalhad Medical College, was asked to accommodate more samples from the Palwal and Gurgaon districts for testing, ”added Arora.
For further expansion and proper functioning of the Department of Health in the management of Covid-19, 863 posts from 21 different categories have been sanctioned in all districts.
Vij also instructed ACS (Health) and MD (NHM) to provide radiographers in the districts, where needed. DGP Manoj Yadava was instructed to launch a massive defiant campaign across the state and identify people who were not wearing face masks. The DGP was also asked to keep a strict watch on social gatherings in public places.
Since November 12, Haryana has reported more than 17,000 new cases of infections, while more than 140 patients have died in these eight days.
.
