COVID-19 Review Meeting : Rajasthan Model State So Far, Better Management to Continue In Future Too, Next Three Months Are Challenging, Should Be No Slackness In Arrangements – Chief Minister

Jaipur, 10 November. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot has said that Rajasthan has emerged as a Model State in management of COVID-19 and the efforts made were praised in the country and abroad. The next three months could be challenging from COVID point of view due to the festive season, winters and pollution. In such a situation, the district administration, health and other concerned departments in coordination and with full capacity do better management of COVID-19 as they had done earlier, so that the situation of corona does not become explosive in the coming days, he said. 

Shri Gehlot was reviewing COVID-19 from the capital to block level through video conferencing from his official residenceon Tuesday. The Chief Minister knew the ground reality by having dialogue with Divisional Commissioners, Inspectors General of Police, District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, Municipal Corporation Commissioners, Principals of Medical Colleges, Chief Medical and Health Officers, Primary Health Officers, Sub Divisional Officers, Municipal Council and Municipality Officers, Block Level Chief Medical and Health Officers and other officers through the VC that went for more than three hours. The video conference was live for the general public through Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms. 

The Chief Minister said that the second phase of COVID-19 infection is spreading in many countries including America, France, UK and Italy. Lockdown has been imposed once again in many countries. “There is a possibility of an increase in infection in the coming days in our country. The concerned officers looking at this should ensure all the necessary arrangements in all the districts in advance so that the efforts made by us so far do not go waste and we are able to fight corona successfully in future too.” He said that the patients coming from neighbouring States should not face any problem in getting treatment. 

Shri Gehlot said that even the newly elected President of America Joe Biden had to say that he would make it compulsory to wear masks in the entire country as soon as he takes the oath of office. Rajasthan is the first State in the country that launched a public movement for masks, he said. Besides this, a law has been enacted in the State and made it compulsory to wear masks, he added. He said that according to medical experts, masks are working as the corona vaccineat present. Every person should compulsorily wear a mask because no one has the right to put the life of another person in danger. 

The Chief Minister said that the State has sufficient capacity for testing of COVID-19. More and more tests should be done to stop infection. He said that complete transparency is being kept in corona related data. There is no need to hide the actual situation of corona in the State because the State Government has done excellent management for corona and there is sufficient number of oxygen and ICU beds, ventilators and other important facilities. 

Repeating his pledge of ‘No One Sleeps Hungry’, he said that the way this pledge was fulfilled during the lockdown, in future too no person should be worried for food grains and ration. He said there will be no shortage of any kind of resources to fight corona. 

Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma said that the department should remain prepared looking at the possibility of increase in the infection during winters. He said that the process of recruiting 2000 doctors will be completed soon, which will fulfil the shortage of doctors to a great extent. 

Minister of State for Health Dr. Subhash Garg said that officers by visiting district level hospitals should boost morale of doctors and paramedical staff who are playing an important role in our fighting against corona. 

Chief Secretary Shri Niranjan Arya said that corona infection is still on and in such a situation people should not be careless. Director General of Police Shri ML Lathar said the general public will have to be made aware to follow the health protocol during the festive season. 

Health Secretary Shri Siddharth Mahajan giving a presentation said that currently the situation of corona in the State is under control. Till now the rate of infection has been 5.47%, while the national average is 7.18%. Similarly, the mortality rate at present in the State is 0.94%, whereas the national average is 1.48%. He said that all necessary arrangements are being ensured by daily reviewing COVID-19. 

Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) Vice Chancellor Dr. Raja Babu Panwar said that masks are very effective in stopping the infection. Positive results have come from the ongoing public movement in the State. 

Principal and Controller of Sawai Man Singh Medical College Dr. Sudhir Bhandari said that the people should necessarily consult the doctor if they have symptoms of headache, cough, cold, viral fever etc despite being tested corona negative. He said Day-Care Centre has been started for such patients at RUHS Hospital, who for some reasons cannot get admitted in the hospital. They are being given COVID treatment at the Day Care facility. 

Medical Expert Dr. Virendra Singh said that getting careless towards corona could be fatal. The infection may increase due to the winter season and pollution. In such a situation one should compulsorily wear masks and the co-morbid patients should move out only if necessary.

Principal Secretary Home Shri Abhay Kumar, Principal Secretary Finance Shri Akhil Arora, Secretary Medical Education Shri Vaibhav Galriya, Commissioner Information and Public Relations Shri Mahendra Soni and other senior officers were present on this occasion.