Governor calls for more testing
Consider a change in strategy in combating Covid-19, Dr Soundararajan tells Telangana govt
Underscoring the importance of protecting doctors, nursing and paramedical staff, as well as others working in hospitals battling Covid-19 cases, Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has called for taking all possible measures to keep safe the “first-line warriors”.
The Governor, a doctor herself, said: “My primary request is to safeguard medical personnel. They should be safe to treat others. It is our duty to safeguard them so they can in turn safeguard the people.” Dr Soundararajan said increased testing for
Covid-19 was necessary and she would ask the state government to do so. She was speaking to the media at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences after visiting the
Covid-19 ward set up to treat healthcare workers who have been infected by the disease.
The Governor said the government was taking concrete steps to contain the disease and is following ICMR guidelines, but it may need to consider a change in strategy in combating the disease. “As there is an increase in cases, there should be some change of strategy. They (the government) may be thinking of that and I am also requesting them to ramp up testing,” she said.
She wore a PPE kit and visited the Covid-19 ward to meet with doctors, post graduate medical students and medical staff who have tested positive. “I came here to express support to the frontline warriors. We are all with the frontline warriors who are serving the country and the state,” she said.
Dr Soundararajan said she was very concerned by the number of medical personnel infected by the disease. “Seventy-nine of them have been affected so far. I wanted to visit and convey that we are with you, don’t worry. Most medicos here have done procedures to save the patients and they got infected. The doctors told me they are happy to serve the nation. I also wanted to give moral support to policemen, to media and sanitation workers who are also the first-line warriors,” the Governor said.
She said she was very worried when the young media person Manoj Kumar died on Sunday. She said media personnel were playing a vital role of keeping people informed and urged them to take every possible care as they perform their duties.