As Covid cases rise, CM Yogi stresses on caution, vigilance

With Uttar Pradesh recording a disturbing surge in Covid-19 cases, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stressed that caution and vigilance were the two weapons to control the viral disease and instructed officials to strengthen arrangements for the prevention and treatment of the deadly infection. During the review of the spread of novel coronavirus infection across the state at Shastri Bhawan in Lucknow on Wednesday, the chief minister was apprised that 170 new cases were reported in the state in the last 24 hours and 110 COVID-19 patients were discharged after treatment in the corresponding period.

At present there are 856 active COVID-19 cases in the state. Yogi directed officials that masks be made compulsory in public places in National Capital Region (NCR) districts like Noida, Ghaziabad Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat as well as in Lucknow. In these districts, people will be vaccinated on priority basis.

He also directed that people be made aware of the need to follow Covid protocol.

Yogi was also informed that till Tuesday, more than 30.86 crore doses of Covid vaccines were administered across the state.

The entire population above 18 years has received at least one dose of the vaccine while 86.69 per cent people have taken both doses.

The chief minister said that 6,700 paediatric ICUs had been set up to protect children from coronavirus infection.

“In 2016-17, there were only 150 PICU beds in the state while today there are as many as 6,700 PICUs beds. Uttar Pradesh has become self-reliant as it has established 206 labs and multiple oxygen generation units. There has been a 2.5-fold increase in liquid medical oxygen and an eight-fold increase in PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption),” he said.

He also directed officials to plan for setting up an e-hospital in Uttar Pradesh and make it functional in the next two years. Uttar Pradesh will be the first state in India to have a live emergency monitoring system.

In this regard, Yogi asked officials to make preparations for a mobile app-based digital platform and command call centre to make its execution smooth.

“An action plan should be made to add five new courses — OT technician, radiotherapy technician, anesthesia technician, dialysis technician, and MRI technician for skill development of paramedical staff,” Yogi said.