Kejriwal Holds High Level Meeting Following Covid Variant Scare; Reviews Preparedness

NEW DELHI: As the country remains on high alert against the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, reported first in South Africa, the state governments are ramping up their health facilities. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday held a meeting with the officials from Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and other concerned authorities to discuss the preparedness following the global scare.

Ban on flights entering India via Delhi, the current situation of Covid-19, testing and prevention measures, upgradation and increasing Covid beds, training of people for Covid Management, procurement of medicines, home isolation and 1031 helpline, oxygen supply, and vaccination numbers, were some of the points discussed in the review meeting that was attended by Health minister Satyendar Jain, Revenue minister Kailash Gahlot, chief secretary Vijay Kumar Dev and senior officers of every department, including DCs.

In a statement Kejriwal announced that he “is personally keeping an eye on the preparations being made to keep the people of Delhi safe from the probable threat of the new variant.” Kejriwal has also written a letter to the centre demanding a ban on flights coming from affected countries to Delhi.

According to Delhi CM, the following pointers have been carved for the capital’s health services plan:

• 30,000 oxygen beds including 10,000 ICUs ready in Delhi; 6,800 ICUs to be added by February.
• Arrangements to be made so that each ward can get 100 beds even on a notice of 2 weeks.
• Blueprint for health services – beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines to reach every ward and resident in Delhi.
• Buffer stocks ordered for 32 medicines to prevent shortage during times of need.
• Oxygen supply and storage being bolstered; 442 MT storage capacity and 121 MT production started in Delhi.
• Telemetry devices to be installed on every oxygen storage tank to track real time oxygen levels across Delhi.
• 2 new oxygen bottling plants established to refill 2,900 cylinders daily.

The CM also pushed out another appeal to the Delhi residents requesting them to get vaccinated. 93% Delhiites have received the first dose of the vaccination, while 57% have received both, he shared.

Highlighting the possible need for increased manpower, the Delhi government, in a statement said that they have been increasing manpower for Covid management so there is no shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedic staff if the rate of infection picks up. The Delhi government said special training in Covid Management has been imparted to medical students, nurses and paramedical staff along with specialist doctors. Delhi government claims it has trained a total of 15,370 healthcare workers which includes 4,673 doctors, 1,707 medical students, 6,265 nurses and 2,726 paramedics. “They have been given training in oxygen therapy, Covid Management, Paediatric Ward Covid Management.” claimed the Delhi government.

Testing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has been intensified. New guidelines will be implemented from Wednesday which will include testing, isolation and quarantine of passengers. The Delhi government assured that passengers would not face any inconvenience in taking the test report as mobile vans will be placed to test and give them the reports in time so that they do not have to stay for long at the airport.

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