Covid norms flouted at Panchkula hospital

Amit Bathla

Panchkula, January 14

Every day, dedicated government officials (incident commanders) and the police hit the streets to prevail upon people to wear mask and maintain social distancing at public places, but the basics of Covid-appropriate behaviour are still found missing at the Civil Hospital in Sector 6 where offices of top health officials, including the Civil Surgeon, are located. This is happening at a time when the district is witnessing record-breaking infections.

‘People don’t listen’

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We urge people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, but they don’t listen. Cops are also deployed to improve the situation. In the coming week, crowds will decrease as we have attained 100% vaccination for both doses.Rs — Suvir Saxena, Principal Medical Officer, Civil Hospital

On the ground floor of ‘A Block’ of the hospital, one often finds a large number of people standing in a serpentine queue for their turn to get the Covid vaccine. Social distancing is far-fetched here. The health authorities also fail to ensure mask discipline at the infirmary.

Though the health administration had recently decided to deploy cops at the Civil Hospital to ensure the pandemic protocol was observed by visitors, the struggle to achieve the same continues.

At a time when the cases are rising rapidly, the prevailing situation at the biggest health facility of the district doesn’t show the health administration in a good light.

The “sheer negligence” can also affect health care workers and doctors at the hospital. As many as 80 health workers have been found positive in the district this month.

The situation is not confined to the Civil Hospital. Crowded scenes can also be seen at various vaccination centres across the city.

However, the health administration stated that as they had achieved 100 per cent vaccination for both doses, the number of people turning up at the Civil Hospital and other vaccination centres across the district would come down.