Patna: In the wake of two new COVID cases surfacing in Bihar, the state’s health department has heightened its vigilance. Pratyaya Amrit, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, conducted a thorough review of the state’s coronavirus prevention measures in a meeting with all civil surgeons on Friday.
According to the report, concerned about the potential spread of the virus, Amrit issued directives for the random testing of passengers arriving at key airports in Patna, Gaya, and Darbhanga. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of adhering to COVID protocols within hospitals, urging civil surgeons to ensure that all individuals, including doctors, staff, patients, and their relatives, wear masks on hospital premises.
बिहार सरकार ने राज्य के सभी जिलों में कोविड टेस्टिंग और विशेष तौर पर RT-PCR टेस्ट की संख्या बढ़ाने के निर्देश दिए हैं। पटना, गया और दरभंगा हवाई अड्डों पर रैंडम कोविड टेस्टिंग के भी निर्देश दिए गए हैं। pic.twitter.com/IXEFQKaqtu
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Civil surgeons were further tasked with convening review meetings to assess the necessity of COVID-19 testing for individuals exhibiting cold and cough symptoms at private pathology and testing centers, as well as private hospitals across the districts.
Reiterating the significance of mask-wearing, Amrit encouraged the promotion of this practice and advised hospitals to make masks readily available to patients. He stressed the need for hospitals to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen and medicines at all times. Public awareness campaigns on COVID-19 were also emphasized as a crucial component in the fight against the virus.
In a bid to gauge the testing efforts across districts, the Additional Chief Secretary obtained a report on COVID-19 tests conducted. Notably, Motihari district conducted a maximum of 300 tests, while Begusarai district lagged behind with only two tests. Amrit directed Begusarai to ramp up testing efforts promptly.
Furthermore, the Bihar Health and Infrastructure Corporation Limited received instructions to ensure the availability of Viral Transport Media (VTM) in all districts by Saturday to facilitate COVID-19 virus testing. The video conferencing session, led by Additional Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, included the presence of Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and several other officials.