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Delta-Plus variant in other states: Yogi asks for maximum sampling in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh chief minister asks officials to ensure that genome sequencing is done and facilities for this are created at KGMU in Lucknow and BHU in Varanasi
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said Uttar Pradesh must step up alertness over the new Delta- Plus variant as it was comparatively far more virulent than the previous coronavirus strains and several states had started reporting Delta-Plus infections.
The UP experts’ committee had presented a detailed report with recommendations for protection from the new variant, including the warning that it may affect comparatively lower age groups, including children, the chief minister said at a high-level Covid-19 review meeting. The state should take all necessary steps, as recommended by the expert committee, to tackle it, he added.
“For a detailed and extensive probe of the Delta plus variant, the state should undertake maximum sampling and do genome sequencing of the variant,” he said to officials.
He also asked them to “do sampling at railway stations, bus stations and airports of people coming in from other states. Districts should also collect samples.”
In accordance with the results of the sampling, mapping of the Delta-Plus affected geographical areas should be done as it would help in protection from the virus, he said.
“For genome sequencing, create facilities at KGMU (King George’s Medical University-Lucknow) and BHU (Banaras Hindu University-Varanasi),” Yogi Adityanath said to officials.
He asked the officials concerned to consult the UP experts’ committee on Covid and take all necessary safety and other measures without delay. He also called for a public awareness campaign.
Talking about the present status of Covid in the state, the chief minister said the daily infection rate in UP had gone below 0.1% and the recovery rate was over 98.5%. The total active Covid cases were 3,423 statewide of which 2,078 patients were in home isolation, he said.
In the past 24 hours, 2.69 lakh (269,000) samples were tested and only 226 samples tested positive while 320 patients recovered.
Make work plan to take doctors off admin duties: Yogi
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday asked officials concerned to make a detailed work plan to take doctors off non-medical duties and replace them there with non-medical youths trained in hospital administration and management.
“Begin employing youths with masters in hospital administration/management or those with MBA degree in hospital management. Doctors should be posted only on medical duties. Putting them in other positions compromises their main responsibility and duty,” he said to officials at the Covid-19 review meeeting.
