Covid-19 Cases in India: With the continuous surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in the national capital today. Mandaviya reviewed the mock drill at the hospital. All hospitals have been asked to conduct mock drills to check operational readiness for the management of coronavirus.
The Union Minister held a review meeting with the state Health Ministers of all the states. During the high-level meeting on Covid-19 status and preparedness, he asked the minister to conduct mock drills and raise awareness among people for following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. Mock drills across the country are being conducted to ensure preparedness to tackle future outbreaks, if any.
Private hospitals too are undertaking mock drills
Not only government hospitals but private hospitals too are undertaking mock drills. These mock drills started from today and are being reviewed by state Health Ministers in their respective states/UTs.
During his visit to the RML Hospital, the Union Health Minister also had an informal interactive session with the Heads of Departments and staff. Mandaviya also spent some time with the doctors, nurses, heads of security, and sanitation services. He also listened to their suggestions on quality clinical practices, measures for infection control, hospital management, sanitation processes and patient-centric provisions.
According to reports, a good response was seen across states where ministers and senior officials reviewed the mock drills conducted to check the preparations and capacities of hospitals and facilities.
States and Union Territories have already been asked to be on alert
States and Union Territories have already been asked to be on alert and keep all preparedness for Covid-19 management. Cautioning against any complacency, the Union Health Minister urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour.
Mandaviya has also urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of ILI/SARI cases. States have been asked to send sufficient samples for testing of coronavirus and influenza and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples.