AHMEDABAD, MARCH 28
Six new positive cases were reported in Gujarat during the past 12 hours taking the total COVID-19 cases in the State to 53.
Of the six new cases, one each was reported in Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Mehsana and three cases were reported in Ahmedabad.
According to Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary- Health, Gujarat government, of these, four cases were infected through the local transmission. Last night three new cases had surfaced in Rajkot.
Most COVID-19 cases are reported in the district of Ahmedabad (18), Surat (7), Vadodara (9), Rajkot (8), Gandhinagar (8) and one each in Mehsana, Bhavnagar, and Kutch districts.
The State has reported three deaths due to COVID-19 with all three being aged and comorbid having pre-existing ailments such as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, etc.
Good Morning:
It’s time to show CARE. We all are in this together and together, we will fight #COVID19. #IndiaFightsCorona #CoronaOutbreak #SwasthaBharat #HealthForAll pic.twitter.com/rLAmIldT8u
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 28, 2020
According to Ravi, the State government has readied four hospitals for coronavirus patients with a combined bed capacity of 2,200. Ahmedabad has a 1,200-bed hospital, while Surat has a 500-bed hospital and Rajkot and Vadodara have each 250-bed hospital. Ravi informed that the new coronavirus cases will be kept in isolation at these dedicated hospitals.
Principal Secretary for Health Jayanti Ravi said, “Special hospitals to fight Covid19 have been set up in different districts. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel also reviewed each of them and that ensured all the hospitals are ready, well-equipped and have safety gears for health workers. He also spoke all the district in-charge about the hospitals and preparedness.”
The State government has completed surveillance and tracking of 3.98 crore out of about 6 crore population in the State for a possible fever or respiratory infections.
The testing facilities in the State have increased to six medical colleges and two private labs having combined testing capacity at about 1000 tests daily.
The State government has claimed it has conducted door-to-door surveys; however, only 9,000 foreign travellers have been surveyed so far. The government had earlier announced that 27,000 passengers had come to Gujarat after travelling to foreign countries. This means 18,000 passengers are yet to be surveyed.
State ramps up testing labs
The state health department on Friday announced that the coronavirus testing lab at PDU Medical College in Rajkot has received approval from ICMR, taking the number of labs in Gujarat to eight. These include six government testing labs at BJ Medical College-Ahmedabad, MP Shah Medical College-Jamnagar, NCH-Surat, SSG-Vadodara, Sir Takhtasingh Hospital-Bhavnagar, and PDU in Rajkot, apart from two private labs. According to Dr Jayanti Ravi, together, these labs can test more than 1,000 samples per day.
Vijay Rupani disburses funds for students
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani disbursed monetary aid for students in Ashram Shala, Samras hostel, Divyang hostel and child protection home for April. The amount of Rs 1500 as aid will be disbursed directly into their parents’ bank accounts. The decision was taken in a core committee meeting on Friday afternoon for the benefit of students from the scheduled tribe, scheduled caste and other backward castes who stay and study at these facilities.
Karnavati BJP Doctors’ Cell has unveiled the list of 56 members who will be available for free consultation daily from 10 am to 1 pm and from 6 pm to 8 pm. They can be contacted over their mobile numbers on coronavirus related medical advise and help, says a BJP release.
