Lucknow: Continuing the rise in Covid cases, the total number of cases in Uttar Pradesh has gone up to 1,025. A total of 188 new cases were reported on Saturday with 52 in Gautam Buddha Nagar, 27 in Ghaziabad and 26 in Lucknow. In the state capital, four new cases each were reported from Aliganj and Sarojini Nagar, three each from Alambagh and two from Chinhat. The number of active Covid cases in Lucknow has gone up to 177.
In Lucknow, eight Covid patients have been admitted to various hospitals, including four at Lok Bandhu Hospital.
Currently, there are active Covid cases in 60 districts. According to the health department data, out of these a dozen districts have one case each and six districts have two cases each.
“A mock drill has been planned for Monday. We will check all the facilities required to treat Covid patients across the state,” said Dr AK Singh, director of infectious diseases of the state health department.
Since the outbreak, Uttar Pradesh has recorded 21.29 lakh Covid cases and 23,651 related deaths.
The rise in new COVID cases has prompted hospitals to prepare facilities for treatment/admission of COVID patients.
The health department in Lucknow has asked all hospitals to prepare staff for rotation Covid duty and identify beds and wards to be used for admitting the infected if needed.
At present, more than 560 oxygen plants are operational in various health facilities including community health centers in the state. Along with this, liquid medical oxygen plants have been established in various medical colleges.
UP makes Covid screening mandatory for international passengers at airports
In view of the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a ‘high priority’ directive, directing the concerned authorities to ensure that international passengers are screened at all airports. Go
It is now mandatory for all people to use masks even in crowded places.
According to an order issued by the state government, all samples that test positive for Covid should mandatorily be sent for genome sequencing.
“Private and government laboratories should send all positive Covid samples to the Department of Microbiology at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for whole genome sequencing,” the directive said.
The guideline issued by the state secretary was sent to all divisional commissioners, district magistrates, chief medical officers and other health officials across the state. The state government’s directive is in line with the guidelines issued by the Centre.
The state government order further states that Integrated Covid Command Centers should be activated, surveillance teams should be activated, Rapid Response Teams should be sensitized and a ‘Monitoring Committee’ should be constituted at the district level.
Also Rapid Response Teams should make home visits to Covid patients within 24 hours of the sample testing positive.
Doctors and paramedical staff should be sensitized in hospitals across the state. Along with this, the availability of equipment, medicine and manpower in the hospitals should also be checked.