Monday, 19 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
To prevent the Covid situation from worsening in the state, the guidelines should be effectively implemented and there should be no leniency in action against those found violating the guidelines. Assessing the future situation, Covid hospitals should be made while also ensuring that there is no black marketing of medicines needed for treatment of Covid. The license of any pharmacist found black marketing Covid medication should be cancelled. The chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat gave these instructions while chairing a meeting with senior government officials to review the status of Covid in the state on Sunday.
Stating that strict action should be taken against those not wearing masks and no observing social distancing in the public, Rawat directed that the amount of penalty charged from those not wearing a mask in public should be raised from Rs 200 to Rs 500. The number of people allowed in marriage functions should also be decreased from 200 to 100. The CM further said that the night curfew should be enforced strictly.
Check posts should be set up on the state borders as required and nobody should be permitted without RT-PCR negative test report. Evaluating the probable situation in the future, Covid hospitals should be set up and focus should be laid on maximising testing for Covid. Rawat also directed the officials to ensure that there is no black marketing of medicines required for treatment of Covid-19. The license of any retailer found black marketing should be cancelled and strict action should be taken. All necessary equipment for treatment of Covid should be available in the hospitals while the price of medicines should also be controlled. Further, nodal officers should also be deployed in districts where there are more Covid cases. Stating that for now a negative RT-PCR test report should be made mandatory for those coming for the Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Yatra, the CM also directed officials to immediately prepare a plan for minimising the probable economic loss which the state may face due to the rising Covid cases. Stressing on the need for speeding up the vaccination campaign, Rawat directed officials to ensure that the home isolation protocol is observed. Necessary kits should be provided to those under home isolation and constant communication should also be maintained with them. The Covid care centres should also be strengthened, he said.
Stressing on the importance of public awareness, chief secretary Om Prakash said that the people should be informed about the necessary points to be considered through various means.
Secretary in-charge Pankaj Pandey informed that work is underway to increase Covid care centres and ICU beds in each district. The number of beds is being increased considerably in Dehradun, Haridwar and Haldwani. Large hospitals and medical colleges have also been asked to create additional 100 bed capacity each. Oxygen generation plants are operational in Dehradun, Roorkee and Kashipur. In addition to these, eight new oxygen generation plants have been set up. Stating that there is adequate quantity of oxygen, Pandey said that all ICUs are functioning properly. Director general of police Ashok Kumar, secretaries Amit Singh Negi, Nitesh Jha, Shailesh Bagauli, SA Murugesan and information director general Ranvir Singh Chauhan were also present in the meeting.
