Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij on Sunday said that RT-PCR labs have been set up in every district of the State. With this, Haryana is the first state in the country to have an RT-PCR lab in every district.
Vij, interacting with the media persons in Rohtak, said that the State Government is completely prepared to deal with COVID-19. “We have also installed machines for genome sequencing in Haryana so that the sample can be checked within the state earlier it use to take so much time. Genome sequencing of each COVID case is now being done to find out its mutation,” he said.
He said that people should wear masks in crowded areas where gathering is more than 100 people. He further informed that health workers were already given guidelines to wear masks. He said that mock drills will also be done on April 10 and 11. He said that this variant is very mild and there is nothing to worry about.
He informed that out of about 750 positive patients, only 25 are in the hospital and the rest are receiving treatment at home. Whatever services were there during the time of COVID phase have been reactivated. He said that people themselves have to be cautious and follow the guidelines set by the government.
In response to a question regarding crime, Vij said that ever since Dial 112 started, there has been a significant reduction in crime. He said that the police vehicle reaches the spot in eight minutes which is unprecedented.
Vij further said that the availability of COVID-19 related medicines is also being monitored at all levels as per the requirement in the healthcare facilities. He said that the people, who have got booster dose, would be given free supplements, like multivitamins, protein supplements, and protein bars, so that they can be protected from the virus.
Besides, officers of the Health Department that all health workers have been asked to give precaution dose as early as possible. The state has made it mandatory for health workers to get precautionary third dose within seven days after receiving the vaccine consignment. Also people with comorbidities and the elderly should be vaccinated on priority. Vij said that a sufficient number of machines, laboratories and other equipment are available to deal with any emergency.
Haryana Records 428 Fresh Infections
Amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the state during the last few days, Haryana on Sunday reported 428 fresh infections and no coronavirus-related fatality from any parts of the State. According to the state Health Department's bulletin, of the fresh infections, Gurugram reported 217, followed by 60 in Panchkula, 41 in Faridabad, 27 in Jind, 17 in Hisar, 16 in Rohtak, 15 in Ambala, 13 in Karnal and others. As many as 145 patients cured from the infection on Sunday, it stated.
Punjab Reports 72 New COVID Cases
Punjab on Sunday recorded 72 fresh cases of coronavirus on Sunday, according to a medical bulletin. Among the new cases, 18 were reported from Mohali, 13 from Ludhiana, 10 from Amritsar, six from Barnala, five from Pathankot, four each from Hoshiarpur, Patiala three each from Jalandhar, Muktsar, two each from Ropar, Sangrur, one each from Bathinda and Moga, it said.
The number of active cases rose to 636 on Sunday, it said, adding that the positivity rate stands at 9.43 per cent. There was no report of death in the state due to COVID on Sunday while 63 patients were released from the hospital. No Stocks Left; Himachal Seeks More Vaccines
No Stocks Left; Himachal Seeks More Vaccines
Witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases with four related deaths reported in a day on Sunday, the Himachal Pradesh government has sought more vaccines from the Centre, pointing out that it was left with no stocks.
The state Health Minister Col (retd) Dhani Ram Shandil has urged the Centre to ensure vaccine supply as no stock left to inoculate.
The Minister said that there are sufficient beds, sufficient supply of oxygen along with adequate number of ventilators available at hospitals throughout the state. “We are regularly monitoring the present situation and there is no need to panic as the things are under control as sufficient resources are available,” he said.
The weekly positivity rate is 6.6 per cent and the current hospital admission rate is 0.9 per cent. The state is conducting around 5,000 tests per day. In the past few days, the state has been recording positive cases in excess of 300. However, the number on Friday dipped largely due to reduced testing, admit officials.
On Sunday, the hill state recorded four COVID-related deaths, taking its total toll to 4,204. The Health department officials said that the State also reported 138 fresh COVID-19 cases, with the active caseload currently standing at 1,764.
On Sunday, three people succumbed to the virus in Shimla, while one death was reported from Sirmaur district, the officials said. The deceased were all males in the 50-81 age group.
Kangra district has reported the maximum number of Covid-related deaths with 1,268, followed by Shimla at 733, Mandi 518, Solan 341, Hamirpur 333, Una 283, Sirmaur 229, Chamba 179, Kullu 164, Bilaspur 97, Kinnaur 41 and Lahaul and Spiti 18.
