COVID explosion: Command and Control Center activated in AP, nodal officers deputed

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government has activated COVID Command and Control Center after a single-day tally crossed 12000.

Chief Secretary Dr. Sameer Sharma has been appointed Chairperson for State COVID Command and Control Center. The officers have been assigned different jobs related to COVID hospitals, Oxygen supply, vaccination process, Covid reports, Lab management, Data analytics, Drugs, Fever surveys, and implementation of restrictions.

Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads & Buildings M.T. Krishna Babu has been appointed as State Nodal Officer (SNO). He will look into the matters pertaining to setting up Covid Care Centers, quality monitoring of food and sanitation in COVID hospitals and COVID Care Centers, and all issues pertaining to adequate availability of LMO including Oxygen Concentrators as well as D-type cylinders, audit of oxygen usage.

Principal Secretary for Health and Medical Welfare, Family and Welfare Department M Ravi Chandra has been appointed as State Nodal Officer for (HR, Social Media, and Mass Communication). He will look into the establishment and functioning of command and control rooms in the districts, positioning of adequate numbers of trained personnel in health facilities, 104 call centers, and CCCs.

Ravi Chandra has been tasked to create social media awareness, coordinate relief assistance by CII, donors. He will also be responsible for coordination with Joint Collectors and NGOs.

MD of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation J.V.N Subrahmanyam has been deputed as SNO for Data Analytics and generation of COVID-19 reports. Under him, the team will identify villages and ward secretariats based on positivity rate. He will also be responsible for monitoring Prana Vayu app.

According to the Health officials, there has been a surge in COVID cases driven by the Omicron variant. From past experiences, the state has deputed 12 officers for all the departments to form teams to handle the COVID-19 situation.

According to the Health Officials, every house is witnessing at least one Covid positive patient in the current wave. From 4500 cases on January 17, the numbers reached 12,615 in just five days. The cases are expected to increase further in the coming weeks.