Chandigarh, March 19: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that efficient implementation of ‘Test, Track and Treat’ strategy should be adopted at district, block and village levels to combat the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the State.
The Chief Minister while chairing a high level meeting with Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioners, Senior and Chief Medical Officers and other officers concerned said that every officer should remain vigilant to deal with any unprecedented circumstances that may arise due to the recent infection increase. Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij also attended the meeting through video conferencing from Ambala.
Sh. Manohar Lal said that Proactive COVID-19 management strategies should be planned with aggressive surveillance, stringent containment, swift contact tracing, focused clinical management and extensive IEC activities.
"Mask wearing and following the social distancing norms and Standard Operating procedures (Sops) has to be made compulsory and enforced in the true spirit," he said.
Chalk out strategies without creating Panic
The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioners that while implementing the COVID-19 strategies, utmost care should be given to ensure that Panic is not created among the general public. He said that regular monitoring of each district, village and block should be done at district and state level. While directing the Officers concerned about monitoring of containment zones, Chief Minister directed that if required micro containment zones should be declared to combat the virus spread. Proper demarcation of entry and exit points in these micro containment zones, contact tracing and clinical management should be done on priority.
Ensure participation of Public and NGOs
The Chief Minister directed that community awareness has again become the need of the hour and for this along with government, active participation of NGOs, Panchayats, volunteers and RWAs should be ensured.
Virus Epicenter has changed
The Chief Minister said that this time the epicenter of this virus spread has changed from NCR regions to GT road districts. He said that along with these districts all the other districts should also make effective strategies to contain the virus spread. Testing, screening, vaccination should be done in letter and spirit. Massive public awareness campaigns should be launched across the State.
Avoid crowded celebrations in upcoming festival seasons
In view of the upcoming festivals and auspicious days, Chief Minister urged that people should refrain from any kind of gatherings and celebrate these occasions at their home with their family members. He said that no matter how many steps the government takes, desired result are yielded only when there is cooperation from people.
Massive challaning campaign should be launched
The Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij who had also attended the meeting through Video Conferencing from Ambala directed the officers concerned that strict action should be taken against those who are found violating COVID-19 guidelines. Massive challaning campaign should be launched against those who are found without masks along with an awareness drive to break the increasing virus chain.
“A three-member committee formed at district and sub-divisional levels to ensure implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at social gatherings and public places,” directed the Health Minister.
He said that testing and screening facilities along with ensuring proper sanitization facilities at schools and industries should also be ensured. Besides this, testing facilities should be ramped up at all the government hospitals, he directed.
Around 8,31,953 people vaccinated till March 18, 2021
During the meeting Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Sh. Rajeev Arora while sharing the figures regarding COVID vaccination status in Haryana, said that on March 18, 2021, as many as 8,31,953 people have been vaccinated. Out of this 1,73,928 (80 percent) Health Care Workers (HCW) have received the first dose and around 1,03,417(59 percent) HCW have received the second dose.
He further shared that as many as 91,088 (67 percent) Front Line Workers have received the first dose and 25,696 (28 percent) have received the second dose that is 28 per cent. Besides this, 4,37,824 people above 60 yrs and 45-60 years have received the first dose.
Sh. Rajeev Arora said that an extensive vaccination drive has been launched across the state and in the last three days around 3.10 lakh people have been vaccinated. He further shared that under the Mega Monday and Mega Tuesday drive, a target of administering one lakh vaccination has been set.
"The maximum concentration of vaccination administration has been laid on rural, semi-rural and semi-urban,” said Sh. Rajeev Arora.
He said that special emphasis has again been laid on contract tracing therefore the health department has adopted the strategy of taking contact tracing number up to 10 contacts. Besides this, the number of daily tests will be increased to 25,000 tests.
Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijai Vardhan, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, Sh. Alok Nigam, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Devender Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sh. Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department, Sh. Mahavir Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General, Information Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Protection Authority, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Smt. Ashima Brar, Director Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, Mission Director National Health Mission, Haryana, Sh. Prabhjot Singh, Director General of Police, Sh. Manoj Yadava and other senior officers were present in the meeting.