Jaipur, March 15. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot has appealed to the people of Rajasthan to take coronavirus seriously as it has spread to 152 countries in the world and he appealed people to avoid going to crowded places, fairs, functions, gatherings and public places. He was addressing the district collectors while reviewing the preparations to fight against the coronavirus through video conferencing on Sunday at Chief Minister’s Office.
Spread Awareness About the Seriousness of the Disease
Chief Minister said people should be told about the seriousness of the disease and about its effect in the world. The dreadfulness of coronavirus can be gauged from the fact that World Health Organisation has declared it pandemic and the United States of America has announced it a National Emergency. He said that people should be made aware about that this virus spreads fast therefore it is important to avoid coming in contact with any infected person. He said after China, the situation of Italy and Iran is also serious and infection is spreading fast. This virus has spread into many countries including America and European countries. So far, more than 5,800 people have died of coronavirus in the world.
Virus can be Defeated with Awareness
Shri Gehlot said that awareness has to be created in rural areas having discussion with Sarpanchs and local Representatives at the level of SDM and BDO. Efforts should be made that people themselves remain careful and avoid going to crowded places. When people of the State will get aware then only we will be able to fight this virus.
Make People Aware Through Pamphlets, Banners, Hoardings and Short Films
Shri Gehlot said that instead of banning fairs and other religious programmes that are organized for years in the State, the government will make efforts to make people aware at the local level so that they avoid going to crowded places. He directed district collectors and other officers to talk to the organisers of fairs and other public functions to ensure that there is less crowds so that there is no fear of spreading of corona virus infection.
Shri Gehlot said that people should be made aware about this virus through pamphlets, banners, hoardings and short films. He said that Health Department should get the pamphlets printed and distributed among people at Gram Panchayat level to spread awareness at wide level taking help of Asha sahayoginis, ANMs and Nursing Students. He said if a person is found having any kind of symptoms of the disease sample should be taken immediately while isolating that person.
Screen Foreigners Properly
Chief Minister during the video conference took information from the district collectors of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu and other districts where foreign tourists come. He asked about the steps taken for prevention from coronavirus and directed them to form teams and send them door-to-door to tell people to avoid going to crowded places. He also directed to screen passengers at Airport, Railway Stations, Bus Stands, Hotels and other places.
Stop Black Marketing of Masks and Sanitizers
Shri Gehlot directed all district collectors and health department officers to ensure that masks, sanitizers and other important items and equipments are not black marketed. Action should be taken on getting any kind of complaint, he said.
So far 1.5 Lakh Houses Have Been Surveyed
Officers during the video conferencing informed that so far 1,48,188 houses have been surveyed throughout the State. District collectors told that screening of domestic and foreign tourists are being done separately. They informed that they are holding meetings with hotel associations. The team of health department is going to hotel to check the foreign tourists coming in groups. Apart from this, local people who have returned from foreign travel are being continuously monitored after screening and the person is being kept in isolation on finding any symptoms of the disease.
Jaisalmer collector said that 236 people who have come from Iran have been kept at the isolation place made in army area which is having capacity to accommodate 500 people. Jhunjhunu collector told that people who came in contact with a group of tourists from Italy during their stay at Madava were screened and 13 rooms of the hotel in which they had stayed were disinfected by spraying sodium hypochlorite.
Jaipur district collector informed that health department teams have surveyed more than 55,000 houses in the district. Spraying is being done at the public places.
Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma told collectors to form teams and get the houses surveyed. He asked CMHOs to do monitoring at the district level. He said that special attention should be paid to screen people coming from Iran and Italy and directed to widely publicize the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of this virus.
Collector will be the Nodal Officer to Prevent Corona in Districts
Chief Secretary Shri D B Gupta said that COVID-19 (Corona) has been notified under Rajasthan Epidemic Act-1957. Testing facility of coronavirus is being provided at Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Jhalawar Medical Colleges. So far samples of more than 400 people were taken in the State for checking, of which four persons were found positive including two Italian citizens. After the treatment of four positive patients, the report of three came negative. Screening of people who came in contact with the Italian group was done. Samples of 118 people who came in direct contact with that group were taken and the report was found negative. He said that District Collector has been made the Nodal officer to prevent corona in the districts. People were made aware about prevention from coronavirus through special gram sabhas in 11,152 Gram Panchayats in the State.
Isolation Ward at the District Level and at all Medical Colleges
Additional chief secretary, Medical and Health Shri Rohit Kumar Singh said that Rapid Response Teams have been formed at the level of Medical College. The Rapid Response Teams formed at the district level have been imparted training. He said apart from the Government Health System, help of Private Hospitals and Railway Hospitals is being taken. Isolation ward with 30 beds have been made at the SMS Hospital. Apart from this, facility of isolation ward is available at all Medical Colleges and at the district level. Place has been identified to quarantine suspicious patients at every district.
Medical Education Secretary Shri Vaibhav Galariya, School Education Secretary Smt. Manju Rajpal, National Health Mission director Shri Naresh Thakral, Information and Public Relation Commissioner Shri Mahendra Soni, CEO, State Health Assurance Agency Smt. Suchi Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Dr. Rajababu Panwar, Principal, SMS Medical College Dr. Sudhir Bhandari and other officers of health department were present on this occasion.
