Covid-19 in UP: ​Yogi Adityanath sends special secy-level officer to assist DMs in Lucknow, Kanpur

LUCKNOW: With Lucknow and Kanpur together accounting for 900 Covid-19 cases a day, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has said that two special secretary- level officials will now assist the district magistrates in controlling the spread of the virus and ensuring that health services are up to the mark.
One special secretary-level official each will also be appointed for Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Bahraich. On Monday, Lucknow and Kanpur had recorded 629 and 269 cases, respectively while Varanasi reported 148 cases, Prayagraj 223, Gorakhpur 255, Bareilly 197 and Bahraich 70 cases.
As the number of containment zones in the state climbed to 10,350—with 41,490 confirmed Covid-19 patients, the CM stressed on increasing the number of beds in L-2 and L-3 Covid hospitals which provide facility for oxygen and ventilators.
As Lucknow is currently recording the highest number of cases in the state, the CM said that the number of beds should be increased in KGMU, SGPGI and RML Hospital, with special instructions to complete a new hospital under KGMU for Covid treatment before the scheduled deadline of October.
“During Monday’s review, the CM said that where necessary, additional manpower for hospitals should also be hired. Covid hospitals should also be established in all medical colleges and a nodal officer to monitor the arrangements at these hospitals should be appointed by the health education department,” said Awanish Awasthi, additional chief secretary (home).
The CM added that it was crucial to continue with all measures required to break the Covid chain. In that context, it was necessary to focus on public awareness programmes through television, radio, newspapers, public address systems, posters, banners, etc. Police and administration have been told to enforce the rule on wearing masks and maintaining social distancing very strictly.
After the incident in Ahmedabad where at least eight Covid patients died in a fire that broke out in the ICU, the fire department has carried out an inspection of several hospitals, both private and government on the CM’s directions.