New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that a state-level task force has been formed, which includes all relevant agencies and corporations, to deal with the Coronavirus situation in the national capital.
The task force will be headed by the Chief Minister. “A state-level task force has been formed which will be headed by me. All relevant agencies and corporations are part of it. All important departments have also been included,” Kejriwal said at a press conference.
“One meeting has taken place where they were told to deal with the situation at an emergency level. Because this virus spreads so rapidly that it would become really difficult for us to control the situation if it breaks out,” he added.
He also informed about the status of the single confirmed case in the national capital.”Till now there is one confirmed case in Delhi who is admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital. He had arrived from Vienna. We are reaching out to 88 people who came in contact with him after he arrived in Delhi,” he said.
Talking about the preparedness against the virus, Kejriwal said, “All people that are coming from foreign countries are being thermally scanned. And if any symptoms are found, then that passenger is shifted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Till now 1,16,589 passengers have been screened at the airport.”
He further said: “At least 19 government hospitals and 6 government hospital have been equipped with a capacity for isolation beds or isolation wards.
“Commenting on the worldwide shortage of the protective mask, he said, “We have sufficient N-95 masks. Efforts are being made to make people aware. We have even asked the education ministry to create awareness among the school children.”
The Chief Minister further said that he will not be celebrating Holi in view of the Delhi violence and the spread of coronavirus.
“I will not celebrate Hoil in view of the Delhi violence and the spread of coronavirus. I would ask the people of Delhi to avoid going to a large gathering. And I will ask all my ministers to do the same.” he added.
Delhi govt’s health infrastructure ‘inadequate’ to deal with Corona virus: Ramvir Singh Bidhuri
Delhi government’s health infrastructure is inadequate to deal with Corona virus, Leader of the Opposition Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged.
With corona virus spreading at Delhi-NCR areas, Delhi government needs to take all necessary measures to stamp it out at initial stage, Bidhuri said.
Hospitals in Delhi are not ready to meet the eventuality and need to be equipped with adeqaute resources to fight against the disease, the leader of the Opposition claimed.
Government must strengthen its own hospitals and health care establishments of Municipal Corporations of Delhi to contain the virus, he demanded.
There is urgent need to build separate isolation wards to treat the patient affected with the virus, Bidhuri asserted.
Delhi Government need to take massive publicity drive to make public aware of the preventive steps before spiraling it out of control, he claimed, adding personal protection equipment and N95 masks should be made available in the city.
BJP MLA Vijender Gupta appealed in his tweeter to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal that all government schools should be shut down to contain the virus conclusively.
South Delhi Mayor reviews preparedness for combating Coronavirus
Mayor of South Delhi Sunita Kangra on Tuesday chaired a high level meeting with the officials concerned to review the preparedness for combating Coronavirus in Delhi.
She took stock of the action plan regarding precautionary measures and awareness campaign taken by the department to contain this dangerous virus. Kangra instructed the department to utilize their entire men and machinery since the possible outbreak of the Coronavirus is a matter of concern for all the citizens of the Delhi.
The mayor of South Delhi said that the department has issued detailed advisory to all the hotels and guest houses regarding this disease and directed them to maintain detailed reports of the tourist coming from the affected areas. This detailed report is being sent daily to the Delhi Government as it is nodal agency for taking measures and treating Coronavirus affected people.
She further informed that SDMC has also started intensive awareness campaign in all four zones to educate and aware the citizens about the symptoms and precautionary measures.
Kangra said that department is distributing pamphlets, installing hoardings, posters for spreading information about this disease. We are also planning to create more awareness about this virus through intensive campaigning at the public places. Apart from this, our health officers are keeping a strict vigil on the situation and visiting all hospitals and dispensaries to check the preparedness.
DMRC issues advisory, to step up cleaning on Metro premises
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday said it would increase the frequency of cleaning on its premises in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
DMRC has also issued Do’s and Dont’s in both English and Hindi regarding the virus.
It will also be run on digital screens at major stations like Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate, Central Secretariat, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.
“Delhi Metro staff has been sensitised and guidelines have been circulated regarding Do’s and Dont’s to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Displays at some other major stations spread across the network will also be done with informative messages to create awareness amongst its passengers on the basic protective measures in this regard,” it said.
More than two million commuters take the Delhi Metro daily.
The national capital on Monday reported a case of coronavirus, triggering panic and prompting closure of some schools as a precautionary measure.
BJP leader asks Delhi Police to suspend use of breath analyser tests
In view of the coronavirus outbreak, Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga has called for suspension of the use of breath analyser tests for alcohol consumption, by the police.
In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner, Bagga said, “In the light of ongoing ncovid2019(corona) infection, to protect(prevent) further spread of the disease, I request to please suspend the breath analyser tests for drunk drivers.”
He claimed breath is one of the main reasons behind the spread of the virus, adding the test can be resumed after the situation becomes normal.
“Request to @DelhiPolice @cpdelhi & other state Police for suspension of breath analysis for some time #CoronaAlert,” Bagga tweeted.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said 28 positive cases of coronavirus have been detected so far in India and announced that all international flights and passengers will now have to undergo screening, and not just the 12 countries listed earlier.
Giving a breakup of those who have tested positive for the virus, the minister said out of the total 28 COVID-19 cases in India, one person is from Delhi, six of his relatives in Agra, 16 Italians and their Indian driver, one in Telangana and the three earlier cases in Kerala.
16 at ITBP’s Delhi quarantine facility test positive for COVID-19
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Wednesday said 16 out of 24 people who were shifted to its quarantine facility in Chhawla have tested positive for Coronavirus.
ITBP Spokesperson, Vivek Pandey told ANI: “16 out of 24 people who were shifted to ITBP quarantine facility have tested positive for Coronavirus. These people have been put in isolation. They are being monitored and their treatment is on.”
“The situation is under control and there is no need to panic. We are taking action as per the Health Ministry guidelines on dealing with COVID-19,” he added.
Yesterday, 24 people including three Indians and 21 Italian nationals residing in a hotel in South Delhi were shifted to the ITBP quarantine facility.
ITBP further said that no fresh symptoms of Coronavirus were seen in 112 people who had earlier been brought into the quarantine facility in Chhawla.
“Today is the 7th day of those people. The second test of them has been conducted and if no symptoms are seen, we will release them,” Pandey said.
Earlier today the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that there were 28 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the country.
Global deaths due to Coronavirus outbreak has crossed 3,000. The deadly virus, that originated in China late last year, continues to spread around the world and has infected more than 90,000 people.
