Coronavirus: Police department appoints nodal officer to track patients who refuse checkup in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: In view of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and to tackle any untoward situation related to it, deputy commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal on Thursday took stock of the arrangements made by district administration and issued necessary directions. The meeting was also attended by additional deputy commissioner (Jagraon) Neeru Katyal Gupta, all SDMs, civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, besides several others.
During the meeting, the civil surgeon brought into notice that although health department is keeping track of all people that have visited the affected countries/areas in the last few days, but some people are not cooperating with the department. On the directions of deputy commissioner, the police department has appointed ADCP (Operations and Security) as nodal officer for Police Commissionerate Ludhiana area, DSP (Headquarter) for Ludhiana (Rural) and DSP (Headquarter) for Khanna. The deputy commissioner also stated that if any person refuses to cooperate for treatment or checkup, the health department can get in touch with these police officials.
Agrawal said that if any person is found suffering from coronavirus, then such persons can be isolated in their respective homes as well. He said that there is no need to take any special medicine for treatment and can remain under isolation for 14 days at his home and take normal medication before getting fully cured. He directed the police department to not arrest any person who refuses to cooperate for checkup or treatment, and instead wherever that person is found, they should get in touch with the health department and ensure his proper checkup and isolation.
The deputy commissioner informed that till date, three samples of suspected patients have been taken in district Ludhiana and all of them were negative.
He also directed all the SDMs and municipal corporation officials to identify all buildings that are not in use in district Ludhiana so that they can be used as isolation wards if any situation arises. He also directed them to organise mock drills in different parts of the district and appealed to private hospitals to support the district administration in case of any emergency.
He also appealed to the residents of district Ludhiana to ensure that they follow all guidelines and instructions being issued by the Punjab government and Health Department so that one is able to save himself from any untoward situation. Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga clarified that no suspected case of coronavirus have been reported in district Ludhiana till date.
As per the advisory, it has been stated that one should not shake hands or hug anyone, do not spit in open, any person having fever should not go out in public, and keep at least 1 meter distance from any person having sough or fever. If any person is having cough or fever, he should always keep his mouth covered with a mask or handkerchief and should report immediately to their nearest government hospital. Similarly, if any person has travelled to China or Nepal in last 14 days, he should be quarantined for 14 days in his house and should not visit any crowded place. As per the advisory, any healthy person who does not have cough or fever, need not need a mask.
The helpline number for district Ludhiana is 0161-2444193, or Dr Divjot Singh can be contacted at 9041274030 or Dr Ramesh Kumar can be contacted at 9855716180.
He appealed to the residents that this disease is fully curable and there is no need to panic. He also said that people should not fall prey to rumours spread on social media about coronavirus. He clarified that district administration has already made adequate arrangements to tackle any situation if any case of this disease surfaces in the district.