New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Tuesday reviewed the Covid response mock drill at Safdarjung Hospital here to check its readiness to deal with a sudden increase in the number of covid cases. This was planned as a precautionary measure amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases in some countries.
"I reviewed the Covid response mock drill at Safdarjung Hospital. This mock drill was necessary to know how prepared our hospitals are," the minister said. "Covid cases are rising all over the world and India might witness a spike in cases too. Hence it is important that the entire Covid infrastructure in terms of equipment, processes and human resources are at a state of operational readiness," he stated.
Clinical readiness at hospitals is crucial, Mandaviya said adding that state health ministers are reviewing these drills in their respective states. Mandaviya urged everyone to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour. He also asked people to refrain from sharing unverified information and ensure high level of preparedness.
The Minister Tuesday visited the 44-bedded Covid center at the hospital, the triage and testing area which has been created by the hospital along with a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection ward in the makeshift facility which already existed. The health minister also interacted with the hospital officials and instructed them to be prepared for any fresh outbreak. In other hospitals in the national capital where the Delhi government is in charge, mock drills were conducted as well. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited the LNJP Hospital around noon to assess the drill.
Mock drills were conducted at various hospitals in Madhya Pradesh as well where state Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said they are ready to deal with any situation. Sarang was present in the government-run Hamidia Hospital in state capital Bhopal during the exercise. "We are ready to deal with any situation. The drill was conducted to check the preparedness of oxygen generation, Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, oxygen supported beds, medicines," Sarang said while appealing all to follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour.
A mock drill was carried out at Covid hospitals across Uttar Pradesh as well where Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited a hospital in Lucknow to ascertain its preparedness to deal with any eventuality. "A mock drill is being conducted across all Covid hospitals in the state to check their preparedness. I personally checked the Covid management (facilities), oxygen flow and ventilators at Lucknow's Balrampur Hospital. Everything is working fine. A mock drill is being conducted for medical, paramedical and nursing staff on how to function in case of an emergency," Pathak said. Uttar Pradesh recorded two COVID-19 cases in Unnao and Agra districts among persons who had recently returned from abroad.
Hospitals in West Bengal on Tuesday conducted the Covid mock drill that started at city-based hospitals including MR Bangur Hospital, Infectious Diseases & Beleghata General Hospital, Medical College Hospital Kolkata, Kar Medical College and Shambhunath Pandit Hospital besides Dr BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences.
In Mumbai, the medical facilities which conducted the mock drill includes the civic-run Seven Hills Hospital (having 1,700 beds) and Kasturba Hospital (35 beds), government-run Cama Hospital (100 beds), St George Hospital (70 beds), Tata Hospital (16 beds), and Jagjivan Ram Hospital (12 beds).
Meanwhile, India recorded a single-day rise of 157 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. However, the count of active cases of the disease has marginally decreased to 3,421, Union Health Ministry data suggested. The tally of Covid cases in the country has now gone up to 4.46 crore (4,46,77,459). The death toll due to the disease stands at 5,30,696 with one fatality being reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am showed.
