Instructions from Health Department due to emergence of Covid cases in the state

Shimla. The Health Department has directed Chief Medical Officers of all districts to investigate cases of cold, cough and influenza (ILI and SARI) in health facilities. These instructions have been given after two cases of Covid were reported in the last ten days.

The health department has started exercises on Covid. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has also taken a meeting with the Health Department on Covid preparedness. In this meeting held on Monday, Health Secretary M.Sudha Devi said that the state government is fully capable of dealing with Covid. As per the guidelines of the Central Government, Covid drill has been organized in the district health institutions of the state, which was conducted from December 13 to December 17.

The first (INSACOG) lab has been established in Mandi Medical College, which is recognized by the Government of India. In this lab, any variant of Covid can be detected through genomic sequencing.

The Covid situation is under control in the state. The state government is capable of dealing with any situation. There are 8234 beds in health institutions across the state.

This includes 1187 beds with oxygen supported isolation, 325 ICU and 333 beds with ventilators, 4323 oxygen concentrators, 9650 oxygen cylinders, 46 pressure swing adsorption plants, 4 liquid medical oxygen plants.

The Health Secretary said that if anyone has symptoms of cold, cough or fever, they should get it checked at the nearest health institution. Health Secretary M Sudha Devi has said that the situation is under control. Preparations of the health department are going on in advance. In view of these preparations, the department is fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation in the state.