Delhi Govt Revokes Order To Deploy School Teachers On Covid Duty At Airport

The Delhi government has revoked its order of deploying school teachers on Covid duty at the airport.

Covid Test.

The District Disaster Management Authority has withdrawn its order of deploying school teachers on Covid duty at Delhi airport from December 31 to January 15. The authority says if needed, civil defence staff will be deployed at the airport.

Earlier, it was announced that Delhi government school teachers would be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to ensure people there follow Covid-appropriate protocols. The order was issued by the District Magistrate (West) on behalf of the District Disaster Management Authority.

At least 85 teachers of various government schools in Delhi were picked to be on duty from December 31 to January 15. Government schools will remain closed in Delhi from January 1 to January 15 for winter vacation. Delhi authorities on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals here to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of the surge in Covid cases in some countries.

Last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 of the coronavirus, which is causing a surge in cases in some countries, had not till then been detected in Delhi and that his government was fully geared to tackle any eventuality.

Delhi Braces For Covid Amid Global Surge

Hospitals across Delhi conducted mock drills on Tuesday to assess their preparedness, including availability of beds and manpower, to deal with any increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

The Centre issued an advisory to this effect on Monday amid a spurt in Covid cases in some countries.

In the national capital, the drill took place at Delhi government-run facilities like LNJP Hospital and private hospitals.

Following the Centre's directions, a mock drill will be held in all hospitals on Tuesday to check their readiness for Covid management, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the health portfolio. Any gaps would be addressed immediately by the health department officials, he said.

The mock drill is to assess bed availability, manpower, referral resources, testing capacity, medical logistics, telemedicine services and medical oxygen availability, among other things. Real-time data on the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators will be available for the public on a Delhi government portal from Tuesday, officials said.