With 50k RT-PCR tests in a day, CM stresses on contact tracing

On a day when over 50,000 RT-PCR tests were  carried out in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to take up contact tracing in an organised was as it was an important component for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairing an Unlock meeting at the Lok Bhawan here on Friday, Yogi directed the additional chief secretaries of Health, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to meet the district magistrate, chief medical officer, chief development officer and nagar ayukt of Lucknow and prepare an effective action plan to control the spread of coronavirus infection in the state capital.

The chief minister sought to assure the people that the government was constantly engaged in the treatment of the COVID-19 patients and prevention of the pandemic.

Taking cognisance of more than 1.50 lakh Covid tests on Thursday, he asked the officials to ensure adherence to all the safety norms in the testing process and to maintain at least 1.50 lakh tests per day.

He said that 50,000 RT-PCR tests per day at government labs indicated the government’s firm resolve to fight the coronavirus.

The chief minister directed doctors to take rounds in hospitals regularly and asked officials to run ambulance services efficiently. He also asked them to augment the number of beds in Covid hospitals in Kanpur Nagar.

Besides, the officials were also asked to utilise Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of Prayagraj for surveillance on COVID-19.

Yogi also directed officials of Noida, Greater Noida, Yamuna Expressway and other such agencies dealing with investors, industrialists and entrepreneurs to listen to and redress their problems on a daily basis.

The additional chief secretary (agriculture) was asked to prepare an action plan to reduce Mandi charges.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said on Friday that there were 67,321 active cases in the state while the number of recovered patients was 2.27 lakh, including 5,936 people discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.

The additional chief secretary said that 1,50,652 sample were tested on Thursday, taking the total Covid tests across the state to 72.17 lakh so far.

Meanwhile, the state government issued fresh orders restricting private hospitals from charging exorbitant charges from COVID-19 patients against extra facility and consultation fee for doctors.

The government also allowed Covid tests on demand in private labs and in all hospitals without prescriptions with certain riders.

The new order said that private hospitals would not be able to levy additional charge even for doctors visiting COVID-19 patients, except for charging fee for RT-PCR or IL-6 tests, for which the government has fixed the rate.

“All costs, including doctor’s consultation and medical treatment are included in the total daily charges to be paid by patients and nothing more can be charged,” Prasad said.

The additional chief secretary said that the government was compelled to bring a fresh order after complaints of private hospitals charging exorbitant money from COVID-19 patients.

Prasad said that if a coronavirus positive pregnant woman underwent delivery in a private hospital, then too the charge would be the same as prescribed under Ayushman Bharat.

He said that the government had fixed the rates of private hospitals as per the recommendations of the Vinod Paul Committee.