Admit COVID-19 patients within 30 minutes, Jagan tells officials

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy, on 28 July, instructed officials to admit COVID-19 patients within 30 minutes failing which action will be initiated. Collectors and joint collectors will be held responsible for any negligence, he said.

During a meeting with district collectors and superintendents of police, the Chief Minister asked officials to monitor the facilities provided to patients and spare no expenses. He asked officials to display the number of beds and their availability along with toll-free numbers where people can lodge complaints in case of any inconvenience. Jagan also asked them to ensure that state COVID hospitals were stocked with Remedisavor drug in case of any emergencies. In the next six months, around 17,000 doctors and staff will be recruited to treat COVID patients, he added.

During the meeting, the officials told Jagan that 32,000 beds are available in 128 district COVID hospitals and 8,000 beds in state COVID hospitals. Depending on the condition of the patient, they will be admitted to relevant hospitals.

The Chief Minister also asked officials to create awareness among people and ensure that they do not discriminate against COVID-19 patients. "The bodies of COVID-19 victims are not be infected a few hours after their death and the family can perform the last rites," he said, adding that the state government will perform the last rites of the deceased if nobody comes forward and Rs. 15,000 will be provided to conduct the funeral.

Jagan said the state is conducting 31,000 tests per million population and 50,000 tests every day. Despite the absence of corporate hospitals in the state, the death rate is under control at just 1.06 per cent, which is below the national average of 2.5 per cent, he added.

The officials said the state government is transparent and has been providing accurate data on COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh reported 7,948 cases and 58 COVID deaths.