Will the in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh be the first to stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic?
Key Highlights:
UP witnesses positive effect of lockdown; the rate of the virus spread is contained.
No reports of community transmission
137 hospitals ready to fight Coronavirus
569 people who attended Tablighi Jamaat event have been identified and quarantined
218 foreign nationals have been home quarantined.
The State paid full salaries to employees; No deduction
Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Principal Secretary Health held a press conference in Lok Bhawan regarding Coronavirus
April 01, Lucknow: Sharing an update on Coronavirus situation, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Awanish Kumar Awasthi along with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) PV Ramasastry and Principal Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad held a press conference at Lok Bhawan here on Wednesday. ACS Home informed that the state has witnessed a positive effect of the lockdown and the rate of spread of Coronavirus has gone down. He said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to monitor and take details of workers coming back in the state. Arrangements are being made for their ration, medicines, etc. CM Yogi has directed to continue strict follow of the lockdown.
ACS Home said that Chief Minister Yogi has taken the Delhi incident seriously and has instructed to immediately identify people who are coming back to the state after attending the function and also directed to take action against those who do not reveal their illness. So far 569 people have been identified and quarantined. He said that some people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat were hiding in Bhadohi, Bijnor, Prayagraj, Bahraich and Lucknow. Such people have been identified, quarantined and action has been taken against them.
ACS Home said that 218 foreign nationals have been quarantined, so far. Their Visa is also being investigated. The Chief Minister Yogi has also ordered action against foreign nationals involved in a violation of visa rules.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home said that the UP government has set an example in paying salaries of its employees. He informed that the salary for March has been credited in the accounts of all government employees without any deduction. He said that the state’s financial position is strong.
ACS Home said there were reports of profiteering from some districts. Chief Minister Yogi has directed the District Collectors to take strict action against such people. He said action is being taken against the goods trucks that were illegally ferrying people. Chief Minister Yogi has instructed to take string of actions against drivers and seize their vehicles.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home said that Chief Minister Yogi is reviewing the status and preparation of lockdown in two districts daily through video conferencing with DM, SP, CMO and other senior officers.
ACS Home said that the purchase of wheat would start from April 15. All DMs and officials concerned have been directed to get procurement agencies fully prepared. Chief Minister Yogi has instructed that special care should be taken for social distancing in the mandis during wheat procurement.
ACS Home said that Chief Minister Yogi has directed to use fire services vehicles for fogging and sanitization. Instructions have been issued to start work on this with immediate effect, he said.
So far, 113 cases in the state, 17 have fully recovered: Principal Secretary Health
Principal Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad said, so far, 113 cases have been reported in the state. Patients of corona have been identified in 16 districts of the state. 59 districts are free from corona infection. He said 17 people have fully recovered while 2 people have died. Those who died were from Basti and Meerut.
Principal Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad said that 46 cases are mainly in Gautambudh Nagar, 19 in Meerut, 9 in Ghaziabad and 6 in Bareilly. He said that there has been a decrease in the spread of the average rate of infection in the state. He said that 49 cases were reported on March 28, while a total of 68 cases were reported on March 29. On 30 March, 87 cases were reported, and on 31 March, the number of cases reached 101. A total of 113 cases have been reported till 1 April. It is clear that on 28 and 29 March, 19 cases were reported on each day, 14 cases were reported on 30 March and 12 new cases were reported between 31 March and 1 April.
Principal Secretary Health said that 137 hospitals are ready to treat patients of Coronavirus. A three-tier arrangement has been made to fight Corona. In the first layer, there are 80-district level and Community Health Centres, and in the second layer there are 45 government and private medical colleges and in the third layer, there are 6 hospitals. These hospitals are medical colleges of Prayagraj, Meerut, SGPGI, BRD, Saifai and Jhansi. Each hospital is equipped with 200 beds and 40 ventilators.
Where there are signs of improvement in the state of Uttar Pradesh, there are further challenges to protect the most populous state in the world. The next fifteen days are extremely crucial to further control the pandemic and finally to eradicate from the face of the country.