Fully prepared to tackle second wave of Covid-19: Health Adviser

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 20

Adviser, Health, Medical Education and Research Dr KK Talwar on Friday said Punjab was fully prepared to beat the second wave of the novel coronavirus if it hits the state in the coming days.

Presiding over a meeting with district officials, doctors from Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Civil Hospital and 51 private hospitals offering Covid treatment, the adviser said Punjab had acquired a lot of knowledge from the first wave of the deadly virus in the past eight months.

He said: “If the second wave surfaces, we will be in a better position to deal with the virus, as we have now strengthened health infrastructure, manpower, improved ICU care facilities, and made ventilators and oxygen available.”

Dr Talwar asked doctors of private hospitals to ensure quality treatment to level-II patients on their premises during the golden period (one-week), so that they do not get converted into level-III and can be cured at an earlier stage.

He also asked them to ensure that every patient gets treated perfectly and report to their institutions, asking to contact him or the administration without hesitation in case they need any support. He said mask was the only vaccine to tackle the novel coronavirus. Referring to countries such as Japan, Hong Kong that witnessed fewer cases as people have adopted facemask culture, Dr Talwar asked people to follow the SMS (social distancing, mask and sanitisation) principle in their routine life to contain Covid in state. He said people must undergo an RT-PCR test immediately in case they develop influenza-like symptoms, so that treatment can be started and mortality can be brought down.

Managing director Punjab Health Systems Corporation Tanu Kashyap said the Health Department was already carrying out massive recruitment drive of MBBS doctors, specialists, nursing staff, lab technicians, and others, which would be instrumental in dealing with the pandemic in the state.

She said the health infrastructure at the local Civil Hospital was already improved and soon the work of the oxygen generation plant would start there.

On the complaints of some doctors that unqualified professionals were treating and delaying treatment to Covid patients which was leading to higher mortality, the Deputy Commissioner said any unqualified professional treating Covid patient would be prosecuted and strict action would be taken.

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