Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday appealed the people to cooperate with State Government in its fight against COVID-19 and observe the Covid appropriate behavior.
He also directed the Collectors to be ready for migrants’ return to State in the wake of steep hike in infection in several mega cities across the Country.
Reviewing the situation in the state arising due to surge in infection, he directed the officials to ramp up beds with oxygen system.
Although there is no problem of beds and oxygen in the State at present, he said the people need to remain prepared for worst case scenario.
Presiding the review meeting Chief Minister said that the second wave of Covid infections has seriously affected many states.
“The health care system in some cities is under severe strain due to rapid increase in the Covid positive patients. The cases in Odisha also have been increasing in the last few days,” he said.
He said due to the State Government’s alertness and pro-active measures, it has been able to manage the situation to a large extent.
“However, we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and ensure that every patient is treated with dignity and put in best efforts to save precious lives,” he said.
Mr.Patnaik stressed further increase in the number of beds in Covid Hospitals and Covid Care Centres across the State and special focus on providing maximum possible number of beds with oxygen support.
“The system has to work on war-footing to ensure this within committed timelines. Our Oxygen supply situation has to be closely monitored and ensure that all related accessories at the hospital level are available on priority,” he emphasised.
Chief Minister said that the State Government has added 5,000 additional beds in the dedicated Covid hospitals taking the total to 11,808, including 2,018 beds in ICUs and 782 with ventilators.
The Chief Minister said many states are facing critical medicines shortage.
“Even though we have sufficient medicines stock, we must ensure buffer stock to tackle higher demand in coming weeks,” he added.
Laying stress on IEC campaign, he said people have to be educated on the dangerous spread of the second wave and the need for active adherence to Covid protocols. The community, Mission shakti group, PRI members should be actively involved in the process and the enforcement activities have to be continued to be implemented strictly across the state.
“With lockdowns in seriously affected states, the Collectors should be prepared for the return of the migrants,” he said and added, “The protocols followed earlier should be reactivated by the Collectors immediately based on the existing database.”
The quarantine norm and testing should be ensured for all the returnees from other states and senior officers assigned as observer and other responsibilities to put their best effort like last year, Mr.Patnaik said.
“I once again request the people of Odisha to please cooperate. We are facing grave danger and unless the people cooperate and act responsibly, it will be very difficult to tackle the situation. It is the interest of State and people that we should manage the covid situation without “lockdown,” he said.
Mr.Patnaik said wearing mask and maintaining social distance will help us in this.
Chief secretary SC Mohapatra, Development Commissioner PK Jena and ACS Health PK Mohapatra participated in the review along with the Collectors and Secretary 5-T VK Pandian.