AP set to conduct a symptomatic survey on people above 60 years

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government is set to conduct symptomatic survey on the people above 60 years, health workers, and high-risk patients to tackle the coronavirus in the state.

The government is fully geared up with medical, paramedical support staff, equipment, and infrastructure to map the COVID 19 suspects in a ratio higher than the national level.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with concerned officials on Tuesday and directed them to carry out the preventive and curative measures effectively.

Later speaking to media I&PR Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) and Special Chief Secretary of Medical and Health Jawahar Reddy said among the 304 detected cases in the state, 280 cases are related to those who attended the event at Tablighi Markaz congregation.

Jawahar Reddy said the symptomatic survey is being conducted on people above 60 years, health workers, and high-risk patients.

Medical officers have suggested conducting tests on 1,800 to 2000 among them. The tests will be conducted on Wednesday. Moreover, 6,170 members identified in the fever survey conducted across the state have been kept under home isolation and treated.

A containment strategy is being implemented at clusters where positive cases were reported across the state. About 1,000 samples were collected from these clusters and chances are likely to have positive cases from these samples, he said.

On easing the lockdown, he said the State and Centre would decide at an appropriate time while strict measures are being taken at the corona hotspots. To check the infection level across the state, the health department is conducting rapid tests to check the level of infection.

An order has been placed for 3 lakh rapid testing kits. The target is to conduct the maximum number of rapid tests every day to check the level of infection in the state and the hotspots for accurate community-level surveillance.

In a major relief, ICMR has approved that TruNat machines used for TB testing can also be used for COVID-19. About 240 TruNat centers are available across the state which can conduct 3,000 tests per day.

As of now, seven labs are functional and the number of tests per day has been increased from 90 in February to 1,170 tests per day now. Currently, 12,000 PPEs are available. The order was placed for 20,000 lakh PPEs where 30,000 PPEs will be delivered every week. Also, the order is placed for delivery 14 lakh N-95 masks besides 1500 ventilators and 20,000 masks will be supplied every week.

He said four hospitals exclusively for COVOD-19 are functional in the state and staff are working in three shifts and three batches were employed. One batch goes for 14-day quarantine after one week service and the second batch takes in charge and this is followed by the third batch in the third week.

By the time the third batch completes the week, the first batch will be back from quarantine to take in charge. This is to ensure the safety of the medical staff. Moreover, frontline workers have been given with prophylactic dose to secure them from coronavirus infection. About 20 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine and 14 lakhs tablets of Azithromycin are available in the state.

“About 640 specialist doctors, 792 house surgeons, 1152 nursing and paramedical staff were employed at the four COVID-19 hospitals. 546 specialist doctors, 546 PGs, 273 house surgeons, and 546 nursing staff were employed across the COVID hospitals in districts,” said Jawahar Reddy.

Minister Perni Nani said, unlike TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu who is hiding at his residence, the state government is functioning effectively compared to other states. He emphasized that the government is not hiding any information related to COVID-19 and asked the opposition to stop doing dirty politics over coronavirus.