UT to better facilities in govt hospitals for Covid patients

CHANDIGARH: In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the city, the UT administration will be expanding the existing facilities in its government hospitals.

Punjab governor and UT administrator VPS Badnore, during a war room review meeting held here on Wednesday, directed that a committee of medical experts should be constituted to study the existing facilities in the three major medical institutions and also recommend methods to enhance Covid-19 treatment beds, in view of rising infections.

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) director Dr Jagat Ram informed during the meeting that there are 114 patients in the Covid block, out of which 46 belong to Chandigarh, 40 to Punjab, 13 to Haryana, six each from Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, two to Rajasthan and two to Jharkhand. UT adviser Manoj Parida stated that testing has been substantially increased with the introduction of rapid antigen testing. Director, health services, Dr G Dewan stated that from July 31 to August 4, the medical survey team had screened 7,989 persons and all symptomatic cases had been sent for testing.

The administrator directed UT finance secretary AK Sinha to hold a meeting to finalise the list of markets which should follow odd-even formula and those that need to be closed completely for ensuring social distancing.