Deaths rising, Punjab to house high-risk patients in hotels

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Concerned over the increasing mortality rate in the state due to coronavirus, the Punjab Government has decided to keep high-risk persons away from containment and micro-containment zones.

Optional facility

• Those going in for the facility, which is optional, will be allowed one caretaker from home
• Senior medical officer of nearest government facility will ensure morning, evening rounds
• Medicines, diagnostic services and medical care will be made available too

In a communication to civil surgeons, Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Aggarwal has asked them to identify decent accommodation in local hotels or lodges to house such individuals. The high-risk persons include those aged over 60 years, pregnant women and the ones suffering of co-morbid or immune-compromised conditions. The health officials have been told to prepare an online list of the aforementioned category of people and offer them accommodation outside the containment zones till their area is declared safe.

The facility will be optional and those opting for it will be allowed one caretaker from home. Medicines and consumables figuring on the Health Department’s essential drug list will be provided. Diagnostic services, as per government norms, and medical care will be made available too.

A senior medical officer of nearest government facility will ensure morning and evening rounds at these hotels, as per the duty roster. Nursing staff and helpers or any other category of paramedical manpower, if required, may also be provided at a fixed honorarium of Rs 25,000 per month (any category of paramedic).

These workers will be covered for health insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package.

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