NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The Centre has urged the States and Union Territories to upgrade their health infrastructure and increase vigilance given the potential surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.
In a letter dated January 1, 2022, the Union Health Ministry told the States and UTs to start creating makeshift hospitals, link hotels to dedicated COVID hospitals and effectively implement the home isolation protocols.
The suggestions given by the Centre indicated the preparation to deal with the third wave. Signed by Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the letter stated that the country recorded 16,764 cases of COVID-19 on December 31, 2021 — the highest ever single-day rise in the past 70 days.
The Union Health Ministry stressed the “high transmissibility” of Omicron and emphasised on “timely and swift up-gradation of health infrastructure in all states/UTs”.
“This becomes all the more important since, with the sudden increase in cases, we may start seeing a stressed health infrastructure,” it said in the letter.
The letter advised all States to prepare additional isolation beds and field hospitals, and ensure adequate ICU beds, paediatric facilities, medical oxygen, ambulances, drugs and diagnostics, and manpower.
“In view of a potential surge in cases, with a view to ensure preparedness, States are advised to create field/makeshift hospitals. This can be done in coordination with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Help from the private sector, Corporations, and NGOs can be taken if needed,” it read.
“This will aid the process of rapid creation of field hospitals or temporary hospital set-ups. States may also consider leveraging hotel rooms and other accommodations linked with the COVID-dedicated hospitals,” Bhushan added in the letter.
States were also told to have a proper plan to home isolate patients and a robust mechanism to follow-up and shift them to a health facility, as required.
“Special teams are constituted to monitor all home isolation cases, call centres/control rooms must aid outbound calling for monitoring such patients and ensuring that all such cases can be shifted to an appropriate health facility through dedicated ambulances,” the Centre advised. (UNI)
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