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respective states. The Centre has asked states and union territories to conduct the drill as part of precautionary measures following an increase in coronavirus cases in China and other countries.
Mandaviya emphasised on the need to be vigilant, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the people to be alert to keep the virus from spreading again in the country. “To make sure there isn’t a Covid surge in the country, PM Modi has asked us to be careful. The government is also preparing if the Covid cases increase. Today mock drills are conducted across Covid hospitals in the country to make sure people get proper treatment,” Mandaviya said after reviewing the mock drill at the Delhi hospital.
In another major development, the nasal vaccine for Covid was listed on Cowin today and has been priced at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for central and state governments. The vaccine will be available from the fourth week of January. The nasal vaccine, iNCOVACC, will be rolled out as a booster dose for those above 18 years of age. Made by Bharat Biotech, it is the world’s first intranasal vaccine for Covid to receive approval for the primary two-dose schedule, and as a heterologous booster dose.
India recorded a single-day rise of 157 new Covid-19 cases, while the count of active cases of the disease has marginally decreased to 3,421, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
In Delhi, the drill took place at the LNJP Hospital and other government-run facilities. Some of the private hospitals are expected to take up the exercise later in the day.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the health portfolio, visited the Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital around noon to assess the drill. “The Delhi government is prepared for any kind of emergency. At LNJP, there are 2,000 beds and 450 of them are marked for Covid-19. If a need arises, we can dedicate all 2,000 beds for Covid-19… we can also increase this number by using nearby banquet halls and add an additional 500 beds for Covid-19, so there would be no shortage,” Sisodia told reporters at the hospital.
He also asked people not to panic, saying primary data suggests that the new BF.7 sub-strain of the coronavirus, which is causing a surge in infections in other countries, is similar to previous variants. “Compared to previous times, oxygen availability has increased 10 times, five PSA plants have been set up here. And ventilators are also present. Today, a mock drill was conducted, how patients can be attended to and shifted to desired location within five minutes was observed,” he added.
An official said Covid-19 testing in Delhi is also likely to be ramped up soon. At present, around 2,500 to 3,000 tests are being conducted daily in the city. Delhi has recorded over 2,007,000 Covid cases and 26,521 deaths since the pandemic started in early 2020. The number of daily cases has remained below 20 and the positivity rate below one per cent since mid-November, according to official data.
Several states, meanwhile, have announced their own set of measures in order to keep Covid contained, especially with the New Year’s just days away when people are expected to assemble in large numbers. The Karnataka government on Monday brought back mask mandate and made the use of masks a must at movie theatres and educational institutions in wake of the sudden rise in Covid cases globally. The Karnataka government asked sections of population including the elders to avoid crowded gatherings. The state government also mandated two doses of Covid vaccination at bars, restaurants and pubs, which will operate only up to the seating capacity for the New Year, celebrations for which should end by 1 am on January 1.
In Tamil Nadu, the state government on Monday directed private hospitals and labs across the state to send Covid-positive samples to government lab for whole genomic sequencing (WGS) to monitor existing variants and detect newer variants. Other states and UTs like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra etc., too, have started preps to tackle another possible wave.
Meanwhile, the Congress has charged that the government was using Covid as an excuse to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the long march spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi was gaining momentum every passing day. “We are very much concerned about the health of the people of this country and the Covid situation as well. This entire drama (of Covid spread) is created to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” AICC general secretary KC Venugopal told reporters.
Venugopal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending public meetings and flights were coming in even from China.
“Flights are coming from China, there is no problem. There is no national level (Covid) protocol suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The PM is attending public meetings and all other government programmes are happening everywhere… there is no problem,” he said, adding why was the government only writing letter to Rahul Gandhi while other programmes are going on without any fuss.
“There is a ‘mela’ going on Gujarat, there is no problem with that. We will follow the protocol – recommended by the experts — when it is issued by the government,” he said.
(with agency inputs)
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