Full lockdown with curfew plan dropped; Four-T programme to control Covid-19 announced

Nagpur: Guardian minister Nitin Raut along with top officials of the district took a decision not to impose a 15-day full lockdown with curfew in the district till the end of August. A Four-T programme has been chalked out which will be implemented by the administration in association with NGOs to control Covid-19 positive deaths.
On July 18, Raut along with home minister Anil Deshmukh had given consent for full lockdown with curfew and asked a committee under divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar to chalk out a detailed plan.
On Friday, Raut held a meeting with divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar, municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, CP Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, collector Ravindra Thakre, CEO of Zilla Parishad Yogesh Khumbajkar and officials of state’s health department and deans of two Dedicated Covid Hospitals. “All the authorities came to the conclusion that a full lockdown with curfew will not serve any purpose in the present scenario. I request people not to believe in any rumours related to full lockdown with curfew from now onwards,” said Raut.
“The need of the hour is to control Covid-19 positive deaths. the main problem is that hospitals are receiving positive patients in critical condition due to which the mortality rate is on the rise. Also, hospitals as well as the civic body are facing serious issues due to staff shortage. We have launched a Four-T programme—tracing, tracking, testing and treating—to detect positive patients and give them treatment from an early stage,” added Raut.
The minister also held a meeting with representatives of various NGOs who assured to help the administration in containing Covid-19 by providing food soldiers, a call centre, paramedics and help desk. “We will establish a help desk in all 38 wards in the city. Testing will be done followed by creating awareness, receiving complaints, helping in treatment or admission of patients etc. MSEDCL has contact numbers which will be used for creating awareness about the Four-T programme,” said Raut.
GMCH and IGGMCH were directed to start testing patients by using rapid antigen kits. “Hospitals are also facing a problem of class-IV employees like attendants and sanitary workers. I have asked them to get sufficient manpower from private agencies. As far as doctors and paramedical staff are concerned, I will make efforts on the government’s behalf,” he said.
Raut also held a meeting with representatives of the Vidarbha Industries’ Association (VIA) and assured all necessary help for boosting the economy of the district and roll back of the commercial and industrial sector.