Chandigarh, July 4- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has directed the concerned officers to take all necessary steps to prevent transmission of COVID-19 infection and provide maximum pulse oxymeters to monitor the health of quarantined persons so that a person can know the amount of oxygen in his body. In addition, other OPD services should be started in medical colleges and hospitals, he added.

The Chief Minister said this while presiding over a review meeting with officers of the District Administration and Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma. University of Health Sciences, Rohtak and the Health Department regarding the arrangements made to tackle the COVID-19 at Rohtak Circuit House today.

Mr. Manohar Lal took stock of the COVID-19 arrangements from Vice Chancellor, PGIMS, Dr. OP Kalra and COVID-19 State Nodal Officer, Dr. Dhruv Chaudhary and was also apprised about testing and report of COVID-19. The Chief Minister also asked to explore the possibilities of pool testing. He said that pool testing should be done in least affected areas and if results are found to be positive then others in the area should also be tested. He said that in highly affected areas, individual testing should be done instead of pool testing.

The Chief Minister said that action should be taken according to the trends of COVID-19 infection. He also took detailed information regarding rate of COVID-19 infection and mortality in the State. He was also apprised about the development of antibodies in infected individuals and also learned about the ability of the body to resist COVID-19 infection after the antibodies were developed.

In the meeting, Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak, Mr. Ram Sarup Verma said that all necessary arrangements have been made to prevent community infection of COVID-19 in the district. Along with this arrangement of 750 beds with oxygen has been made for the treatment of infected persons and three COVID Care Centres have also been established, he added. He said that MGNREGA labourers are also being given employment under MGNREGA in the district. Work has started in most of the nearly 2500 industrial units located in the district and about 33,000 workers have been employed in these units, he added.

Vice Chancellor, Dr. OP Kalra said that the state has a capacity of 6000 COVID-19 tests per day. PGIMS has a capacity of about 2000 tests per day. He said that treatment with plasma therapy has also been started in the University of Health Sciences. Plasma has been taken from two persons who recovered from COVID-19 and one infected person has been administered plasma. He said that there are 4057 active cases of COVID-19 in the state and the rate of recovery is increasing. About 80 percent of the infected persons are receiving negative reports within eight to nine days of treatment. 50 ventilators have been received from the Central Government and health facilities will be enhanced on receipt of another 150 ventilators. About 310 individuals have been quarantined in their homes, he added.

He informed the Chief Minister that an app has also been developed by PGIMS under the supervision of Dr. Dhruv Chaudhary, which will help in detecting COVID-19 infected persons and help prompt hospitalization. This app will be launched soon, he added.

State Nodal Officer for COVID-19, Dr. Dhruv Chaudhary said that 840 persons are under treatment in PGI, out of which 18 patients are admitted in ICU. An 80 percent reduction in deaths from COVID-19 has been reported, he added. He said that the Trauma Centre has 180 beds with oxygen facilities and 36 beds in the ICU. About 180 COVID-19 tests are being done daily in PGI and about 100 tests are conducted in civil hospital. Reports of the tests are being made available within 24 hours, he added.

On this occasion, Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak, Mr. D Suresh, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sandeep Khirwar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Rohtak, Mr. Pradeep Godara, Superintendent of Police, Mr. Rahul Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak, Mr. Mahender Pal and other senior officers were also present.