We need support from all walks of life to counter the outbreak of coronavirus: Sadhu Singh Dharamsot

Patiala: Stressing on need of support from all walks of life to save the precious lives of the punjab people falling prey to the deadly CORONAVIRUS, Punjab Minister for Forests, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said, here, today evening, that one should endorse the measures being taken by the state in public interest instead of opposing them vehemently. 

      The Cabinet Minister, who was here to review the situation arising amid surge in COVID cases, said that the new strain we are facing has increased the effect and infection of spread of VIRUS and deaths. "It is tough time for all of us, especially for the entire medical fraternity and paramedics to handle the severe patients infected with the COVID, so instead of contradicting them, we should boost their morale so that they can serve humanity with more zeal", added Dharamsot. He said the restrictions being imposed by the state are to save the lives of the people and if we succeed to break the chain by adhering to these, then it would be helpful to fight the pandemic more effectively.

     Appealing to the outfits opposing the government decisions, he said that this was not the time to show strength in the opposite direction, we have to support the government efforts to contain the spread of virus. He said the Chief Minister is worried a lot seeing the present situation and wants to see the residents healthy, so it is our big responsibility to exhort the people to abide by the restrictions, leaving behind our political and other interests. He said that we should show seriousness towards the poor people who are falling prey to the COVID for not taking the precautions seriously, in fact we should sensitise such people or their family members to report to the hospital or doctor before the situation gets serious or grim.

     Apprising the Minister of the efforts being put in by the district authorities to contain the virus and save the lives of the infected persons, the deputy commissioner, Kumar Amit said that we have increased the testing to 5000 per day besides pacing up the vaccination in the district by adding that so far over 2.5 lakh persons have been inoculated. Similarly, about 4100 infected persons were undergoing home isolation out of 4325. To care for moderate to severe patients, the district has adequate arrangements of L-2 and L-3 beds in Government and Private hospitals. Apart from that, the district has dedicated helpline numbers for queries and updates regarding counselling of home isolated persons, availability of beds and oxygen. 

      Surbhi Malik, Nodal Officer, Tertiary Covid Care, Rajindra Hospital, said that we have increased the number of L-3 beds from 90 to 280 in the last days and besides existing total 600 l-2,L-3 beds, we are going to add 120 more beds. Similarly, responding to the appeal of Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, Indian Army has set up a 100 bedded L-2 facility at Super Speciality Block that would be made functional, within a day or two. 

      Expressing satisfaction over the efforts and arrangements being done by the district administration and health authorities, Mr Dharamsot said that we have to work more to save the people from the pandemic. The officers present there included ADC (D) Dr. Preeti Yadav, Chief Administrator PDA Surabhi Malik, ADC (G) Pooja Sayal Grewal, Civil Surgeon Dr. Satinder Singh, AC (G) Dr. Ismat Vijay Singh, Under Trainee PCS officers Jaslween Bhullar and Jagnoor Singh Grewal, District Epidemiologist Dr. Sumeet Singh and District Social Justice and Empowerment Officer Sukh Sagar Singh.