Varanasi: A four-day drive of Covid-19 vaccination — ‘Covid Tikakaran Utsav’ — would be conducted in the state from April 11, the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule to April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The vaccination would be done at all urban and rural centres during this period.Yogi, who was in the city on Friday, held a meeting at the central conference hall of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to review the situation and available medical arrangements in the district. He also inspected the Kashi Integrated Command and Control Centre (KICCC).

The CM asked the officials to ensure the availability of sufficient stock of the vaccine. He said that arrangements for Covid dedicated ambulances should be made. Currently, there are 18 such ambulances in Varanasi. The CM directed to increase the number of such ambulances to 25. He further said that there was a need of quick expansion of medical facilities, as the intensity of the second wave of coronavirus infection is greater. He suggested controlled OPDs with limited patients, and starting tele-consultancy for patients. The private hospitals, which were turned into Covid hospitals, should be activated again. Besides, the rates of RT-PCR test, antigen tests, and Covid treatment at private hospitals should be determined to check the exploitation of patients. He also warned that strict actions like black-listing and sealing would be taken in case of fake pathological reports.

The CM said that the health workers, corona warriors, police and administrative officials should take care, and increase the contact tracing. The infected people should stay in home isolation or get admitted to a hospital. There are over 1,000 beds in L-3 and L-2 hospitals in the district, he said adding that the number of beds should be increased, as people from eastern UP and Bihar also come to Varanasi for treatment. Yogi said that as the situation in Maharashtra and Punjab is not good, special trains will be run for the people who are returning home.

The facility of antigen tests at railway stations and bus stands should be restored. He directed the officials to form supervision committees at gram panchayat and ward basis and provide them thermometer, sanitizer and oximeter. There should be a watch on the people coming from outside, and they should be tested, he added. The CM laid stress on the awareness drive against Covid-19 using the public address system. Action would be taken against the violators of Covid protocol. He said that the people of civil defence, NCC, home guards and PRD jawans should be roped in. The sanitation and sanitization drive should be conducted on war footing.

Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal, through a powerpoint presentation, apprised the CM of the current situation in the district. He said that 1,51,126 samples were tested from March to April 8 out of which 4,911 tested positive for Covid-19. So far, 1,031 patients have been declared cured. Currently, 203 patients are in hospital and 3,677 are in home isolation, he said adding that there are 1,058 beds including 223 ICU beds in the hospitals. There is a facility of 8,330 testing every day in the hospitals.

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