Gurdaspur gets digital war room to take on Covid-19

Ravi Dhaliwal

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Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, July 29

To strengthen the ongoing battle against Covid-19, the district administration has set up a ‘digital war room’ and started conducting live online sessions on social media platforms to ensure that residents do not “fall prey to TV doctors and quacks whose knowledge of the infection is laughable”.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ishfaq holds a 90-minute brainstorming session every evening with government doctors and other stakeholders in attendance. They include Civil Surgeon Dr Kishan Chand, District Epidemiologist Dr Prabhjot Kaur Kalsi and all 18 Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) posted in the district. Physician Dr Rajesh Lakhanpal, who left a lucrative government job to start his own hospital a few months ago, also remains present as a special invitee.

The Facebook Live session is held from 6.30 pm to 8 pm. Residents also give their suggestions on ways and means to outdo the virus. The endeavor has come in for praise from all quarters with Raman Bahl, the Chairman of the Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board, saying the initiative was long overdue keeping in view the rising number of Covid patients in the state.

“With the sessions, we not only get a chance to interact with residents but also present our view before them. Recently I told viewers that not everyone agrees to wear a mask, but then not everyone agrees to a loved one getting sick. So I told them that start wearing masks to ensure their loved ones do not get infected. I also tell people to be patient because there are better times ahead,” said Kalsi.

“There is a lot of confusion regarding the infection. So it is imperative that we educate the people and the best way to reach out to residents without coming in contact is through the online sessions,” said Dr Chand.

Officials said the war room had enabled integration of the Health Department with the police and surveillance teams. “It also gives a better idea of how infection is spreading,” said the DC.

Data culled from ITIHAS-the software developed by IIT, Chennai, is also discussed during the sessions. “Like Covid has made shaking hands a thing of the past, these interactions have ensured that holding meetings in crowded rooms become relics of history,” said Dr Kalsi.

Meanwhile, the Health Department has ramped up testing facilities, with nearly 1,200 people being tested at random every day. Sources say with the cost of one test being pegged at Rs 4,500, the total amount being spent every day comes to around Rs 54 lakh.