Infection rate of 30% in Jaipur a matter of grave concern: CM Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressing concern over constantly increasing cases of Covid-19 in Jaipur asked officials to make special plans to tackle the menace. He directed the officers to increase containment zones, testing and tracing of Covid positive cases aggressively.
The chief minister was holding a review meeting on Friday. He said that in the last three weeks the number of Covid cases increased from 18,000 to 51,000. This means the positivity rate in the state capital is about 30%, a matter of grave concern. He said this calls for new strategy to tackle the infection rate.
Gehlot asked the experts to suggest new treatment protocol in incidents of black fungus cases reported among some Covid patients. He said this protocol had to be communicated to the doctors in the district hospitals and at CHC level. He added such cases had to be identified at the beginning and be treated to mitigate the effects. He also directed officers to ensure sufficient medicines for the treatment of the disease.
The chief minister said considering the virus making its way to the villages there is a need to further strengthen the health infrastructure in the rural areas. He asked the officials to ensure sufficient man power in the rural areas.
He said door-to-door survey and medicine kit distribution in an effective way could result in identifying the cases and providing initial treatment to the patients and saving lives. Medical and health minister Raghu Sharma stressed the need to adopt different strategies for urban and rural areas. He said there is a need for large-scale antigen testing in rural areas for early detection of positive cases and isolation. He said seven districts including Jaipur account for 1.25 lakh cases.
Chief secretary Niranjan Arya informed everyone that the Centre has agreed to release an additional 20 MT of oxygen from Hazira.