Expert teams for nine states
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 9
As Covid-19 cases in India reached 5,865 with 169 deaths, the Centre today readied a scheme fully funded by it to help state governments with emergency response and health system preparedness. High-level multidisciplinary teams for containment and hospital preparedness were stationed in nine most affected states, namely Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
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The case count went up by 671 in the past 24 hours and deaths by 20, with 477 persons cured and discharged.
In a letter to states, the Ministry of Health said the central scheme would cover expenses incurred on building hospitals and health systems across states to manage Covid-19, procurement of medical equipment, including personal protective gear, surveillance and purchase of masks, ventilators and ambulances. “Teams have been readied and sent to nine states.
We have also written to states about the 100 per cent centrally funded scheme titled Covid Emergency Response and Health System Package for States,” Health Ministry spokesman Lav Agarwal said.
Modalities of the scheme were finalised at a meeting of the Group of Ministers to review containment efforts and Covid-19 management challenges.
The GoM advised against fear over the dearth of personal protective gear, besides stressing on their rational use. It also advised against misuse of hydroxychloroquine.
“The GoM said fake news and fears around PPEs were unwarranted because not everyone would need the full PPE gear. While high-risk doctors would need full body suits, moderate-to-low-risk frontline heath workers would need N95 masks and gloves. The GoM took stock of the availability of essential medical equipment. Orders for 1.7 crore PPEs and 49,000 N95 masks have been placed and deliveries have started. As many as 30 domestic makers of PPEs have been matured for Covid response,” Agarwal said.
The GoM also reviewed Covid test sample strategy and issued directions to increase test samples in disease clusters across the country. This augmentation would depend on 2.5 lakh test kits India has ordered for antibody (blood-based) tests from Singapore to test everyone with influenza-like illness in Covid hotspots. This supply has not yet arrived.
The ICMR said supplies “are expected any time now”. As of today, India has tested 1.30 lakh samples with 5,865 positive. “The rate of positivity of the Covid virus has remained stable in India between 3 and 5 pc and has not increased significantly,” said the ICMR.
In another move, the GoM directed that anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) should be used as per prescription and not by patients with cardiac irregularities. “The GoM was also informed that sufficient stock of hydroxychloroquine is being maintained in the country,” Agarwal said.
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