GMCH, PGI asked to scale up RT-PCR testing capacity

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have been asked to increase their RT-PCR testing capacity in view of the surge in the Covid-19 cases.

UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore directed the PGI authorities to enhance sample testing capacity to 1,200 per day. Of this, at least 600 samples sent by the UT Administration should be accepted daily. The GMCH-32 has been asked to increase the capacity to 400 RT-PCR tests per day.

The share of RT-PCR tests has increased to 48 per cent in the last week from 40 per cent seen in the month of February.

In the past four days, over 55 per cent of the Covid-19 tests conducted were RT-PCR. The Centre has asked the UT to test almost all possible suspected Covid-19 cases through RT-PCR.

All family contacts of the infected patients, suspected patients and those visiting the OPD are being tested through RT-PCR.

The Administrator suggested that contact tracing should be intensified and all those, who came into contact with Covid patients, must be mandatorily tested. He also mentioned that visitors reaching Chandigarh by bus, train, air and other public transport modes should be invariably screened and wherever symptoms are found, people must be tested to check infection.

The Administrator also appealed to the medical authorities to be prepared to handle the increasing number of Covid patients, who are coming for treatment in hospitals. He also directed them to ensure that there is no wastage of the vaccine and the FIFO (first-in, first-out) principle should be strictly followed while utilising the vaccine.

Substantial rise in positivity rate: PGI Director

PGI Director Dr Jagat Ram stated that Covid patient load at the institute had increased to 135 in Nehru Hospital Extension. Out of this, 41 belonged to Chandigarh, 58 to Punjab, 26 to Haryana, seven to Himachal Pradesh and three to other states. He also mentioned that there has been a substantial increase in the positivity rate, which has reached as high as 10 per cent. Dr Amandeep Kang, Director, Health Services, said they had conducted 7,754 Covid tests, out of which, 867 were found infected. The positivity rate was 11.2%.

The directions

The UT Administrator directed the PGI authorities to enhance sample testing capacity to 1,200 per day. Of this, at least 600 samples sent by the UT Administration should be accepted daily. The GMCH-32 has been asked to increase the capacity to 400 RT-PCR tests per day.

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor inoculated

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Panjab University, here on Monday. The Vice-Chancellor followed the instructions and waited at the institute for 30 minutes post-vaccination. He also had an interactive session with the patients who were satisfied and contended with the services of the medical staff of the institute. The Vice-Chancellor, along with Principal Prof Hemant Batra, also inspected the institute. He advised Prof Batra to take steps for the growth of the institute, maintain Covid-19 protocol and take care of the patients.

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