Chandigarh November 13, 2020: In view of the apprehensions of the health experts about the spike in COVID-19 cases during the upcoming festival and winter season, Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla has directed that more vigilance and advance planning for the next three months should be done in the National Capital Region, so as to ensure the containment of COVID-19 infection.
The Union Home Secretary gave these directions while presiding over a review meeting on the status of COVID-19 in Delhi and the National Capital Region through video conferencing here today. Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Vijai Vardhan and District Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of National Capital Region also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that keeping the concerns of the health experts in mind regarding the increase in COVID-19 cases during the festival and winter season, directions have been issued for increasing the testing facility, intensifying the drive being run for mass awareness regarding precautions to be taken for the containment of infection and challenging those who do not wear a face mask. Besides this, the COVID-19 testing facility is also being increased in all districts and a district-level IEC campaign is being implemented to make people aware.
The Chief Secretary informed that from November 15, schools and colleges in Haryana will be reopened and adequate safety arrangements have been made to ensure containment of virus among the children who will start commuting by public transport.
The Chief Secretary said that the COVID death rate is 0.9 percent and 0.6 percent in districts Faridabad and Gurugram respectively. He informed that in the last seven days, there has been a rapid increase in the coronavirus positive cases in the National Capital Region. However, the Haryana Government is working with special alertness in this regard and is fully prepared to deal with every situation, he said.
He said that as far as ICU beds are concerned, Haryana’s Health Department has ensured adequate availability of the same. The COVID hospitals in the state have adequate availability of ICU beds and ventilators. Besides this, adequate arrangements have also been made for increasing these numbers if required.
During the meeting, the Union Home Secretary also inquired about the situation from higher officials of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and directed them to increase vigilance in their respective states. He also directed them to intensify the awareness campaign.
Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, Alok Nigam, Director General of Police, Manoj Yadava, Special Secretary, Health Department and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Prabhjot Singh and other senior officers also attended the meeting.
By YS.Rana: Principal Correspondent.
