Over 4% of Delhi health workers, including 33 doctors, affected by COVID-19
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced today that over four percent of health workers in the national capital, including 33 doctors, have been affected by the coronavirus infection. The minister added that this situation is ‘worrying’. Top health ministry officials, interacted with Delhi Health Minister, Delhi Lieutenant Governer (LG), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and other surveillance officers over a review meeting.
Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that 13 paramedical officers, 26 nurses, 33 doctors and 24 field workers have been affected by COVID-19. The Health Ministry has deployed an army of health care officers, medical care professionals, MBBS students, and volunteers across the country to help in treating the COVID-19 patients.
The health ministry has also written to all the states asking them to take care of their healthcare workers and to list the measures os safety undertaken for them. The Centre has supplied around 5.11 lakh additional PPEs (personal protective equipment) to increase the existing stock of 2.75 lakh PPEs present with the states. According to latest figures of the health ministry, the national capital has around 100 containment zones. These zones are the ones having positive cases, presenting a threat of further transmissions.
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Meanwhile, Dr Harsh Vardhan also added that there is a requirement to increase the periphery or boundary of sealed areas in the capital, to prevent COVID-19 better. Anil Baijal, Delhi LG has directed all the district magistrates to execute a ‘micro-containment zone strategy’ in their respective areas to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection. Under the containment plan, small clusters reporting positive cases will be identified and declared a containment zones instead of the big ones. India’s doubling rate of COVID-119 cases is now down to 10.2 days. So far, the country has witnessed 29,974 active cases with 937 deaths.
