The Punjabis warrior spirit is at work, once again. Known for their magnanimity and bounteousness, NGOs, marriage palace owners and several others in Punjab’s Mohali district have come up with offers to set up isolation facilities — an act of nobility appreciated by the District Administration as well.

Any support for a 50-bedded or above facility with adherence to Covid guidelines is most welcome, said Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan.

Mohali has been witnessing a massive surge in its cases since the past month, with district, as of Tuesday, having 8,662 active cases and 49,932 confirmed positive cases — second next to Ludhiana in the State.

In fact, during the past week, the District’s positivity rate hovered between 28.51 percent (recorded on May 2-Sunday) and 18.99 percent (recorded on may 3-Monday). What is more, the district reported 55 deaths in past seven days — on an average seven to eight deaths everyday; besides whopping 5,127 cases in a week — on an average 732 fresh cases every day.

Considering the worsening state of affairs in the district, good Samaritans have come forward offering the facilities available with them to set up isolation facilities for the Covid-19 positive patients.

“Mohali Administration has been receiving numerous offers from the people of the city that they are willing to set up four to five, even 10-bedded facilities for Covid patients requiring Level-II care. We are very thankful to them for offering their support but managing small facilities would not be feasible,” said Dayalan while talking with The Pioneer.

Dayalan said that individuals, non-government organizations, some societies, and several people are coming forward offering their facilities like someone has a marriage palace, etc.

The Deputy Commissioner elaborated that an isolation centre with capacity less than 50 beds would be difficult to sustain given the paucity of medical or paramedical staff.

 “It is not like we set up a facility and put up beds and oxygen cylinders there. We also need doctors and required staff which Level II facility requires…then the health department has to see of it was adhering to all COVID guidelines,” he said.

Appreciating the Mohali residents for the magnanimity of their heart and their earnest desire to support their brethren, Dayalan said: “Hat’s off to the Punjabi spirit of sharing and caring.”

At the same time, the Deputy Commissioner welcomed any proposals to establish a facility with 50 or more beds. “Any support for a 50 beds or above facility with adherence to COVID guidelines is most welcome. Anyone interested can contact the Civil Surgeon to get certification of the site,” he added.

“Any support for a 50 bed or above facility with adherence to COVID guidelines is most welcome; contact Civil Surgeon to get certification of the site,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has also suggested the private hospitals in the district to not to refuse hospitalization to the critical patients intending maximum respite to the patients requiring critical care.

 “L3 patient may be accommodated or admitted in L2 till the next discharge from L3, subject to the approval of patients’ attendant; declining admission and sending critical patient back home will be distressing and may even prove fatal while admission in a lower facility and being under medical supervision may render him some opportunity to recover,” opined Dayalan during a meeting.