Covid: Hospitals Across India Plug Loopholes As States Conduct Mock Drills To Check Preparedness. Key Points

Mock drills to evaluate Covid preparedness in hospitals across the country were held on Monday. The drills were assessed by Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya and state health ministers.

Mock drills were conducted at various public and private hospitals across the country on Monday to assess hospital preparedness amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who evaluated COVID preparedness in several hospitals, emphasised the importance of the five-fold strategy of "Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Behave (adherence to COVID-Appropriate Behaviour)". He said that this is still the primary strategy for COVID management against all variants.

According to the Centre's data released on Monday morning, India recorded 5,880 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 35,199, while the death toll rose to 5,30,979 with 14 deaths reported on Monday.

During a virtual review meeting with state health ministers, Mandaviya urged them to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills on April 10 and 11. Mandaviya said it is crucial to identify emergency hotspots, increase testing and vaccination, and ensure the that hospitals are ready to deal with Covid emergencies. He also stressed the importance of creating awareness about following COVID-appropriate behaviour.

Here are the top developments around the countrywide mock drills:

DELHI

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi to oversee mock drills. 

Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal said that his government is monitoring the rise in Covid cases in the national capital and is "prepared to face any eventuality".

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Covid cases are expected the rise in the national capital soon as the city is densely populated. He urged those with flu-like symptoms to wear masks and avoid public places. Delhi saw 699 COVID-19 cases and four fatalities on Sunday.

MAHARASHTRA

The mock drills were carried out at various government-run hospitals across Maharashtra on Monday. At JJ Hospital in Mumbai, one mock drill was conducted in the OPD and another in the wards, where the medical supplies, X-ray equipment, oxygen availability, and personnel deployment were assessed. 

Maharashtra was one of the three states with 10 or more districts having a positivity rate (cases per 100 tests) of over 10%, as observed in the Covid review meeting presided over by Mandaviya on April 7. On April 7, the state's daily tally reached 926, the highest in 2023. As of Sunday, Maharashtra's total case count stands at 81,49,929, and the death toll is 1,48,459.

As many as 123 healthcare facilities in Pune conducted the mock drills to review their preparedness for COVID-19 emergencies.

GUJARAT

Mock drills were also conducted at various COVID-19 hospitals of Gujarat to assess the preparedness of the health system to cope with a surge in infections. Doctors in PPE suits transported dummies in ambulances to designated wards, and the availability of oxygen was also checked during the exercise. 

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel inspected the mock drill at Gandhinagar civil hospital and evaluated the hospital's ability to handle a large influx of patients. Patel inquired about the availability of medicines, functioning ventilators, and the PSA Oxygen plant at the hospital, as well as the availability of beds and functioning oxygen supply lines from the PSA plant to beds in the wards. 

The state government has requested 3 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the Centre to vaccinate individuals who have not yet received the booster dose. The mock drill also included checking the availability of oxygen at each bed in designated COVID-19 wards across various hospitals in the state.

As per state government data, Gujarat has 2,013 active cases of COVID-19, with seven patients on ventilator support. The state reported on fatality on Sunday

MADHYA PRADESH

Hospitals in Madhya Pradesh also conducted the mock drill at facilities, such as the state-run Prakashchandra Sethi Hospital and Hamidia Hospital of Gandhi Medical College.

Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang apprised the state that all arrangements were in place to deal with COVID-19 cases.

Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Bhure Singh Setia said over 40 government and private hospitals are being readied to deal with Covid emergencies.