Corona outbreak: UP HC asks hospital CMOs to apprise it of steps taken to curb virus spread

Expressing concern over the outbreak of coronavirus, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Monday asked chief medical officers of government hospitals to furnish it on Tuesday the action taken by them to control the spread of the deadly virus.

A bench of justices P K Jaiswal and K S Pawar also warned that the state's principal secretary and director (Health) as well the CMOs of the government hospitals concerned will have to appear before it, if they fail to submit the report.

The court's order came on a public interest lawsuit filed by Lucknow resident S K Ojha, who through his advocate V K Singh, sought the court's directions to all state government authorities to assiduously take various precautionary and preventive measures to stem the spread of the virus and prepare the state to tackle the outbreak.

The bench, while deciding to hear the case again on Tuesday, also asked the government authorities to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the central as well as state governments on various preventive measure to control the spread of the virus.

The bench directed the authorities concerned to depute doctors and paramedics at the airport helpdesk with thermal scanner and infrared thermometers for diagnosis.

It also asked authorities to follow the same measures in the city of Lucknow, where some COVID-19 cases have been reported.

The bench asked the state authorities to set up isolation wards at prominent hospitals like SGPGI, KGMU, Ram Manohar Lohia, Civil, Lokbandhu and Balrampur hospitals as well as various government hospitals.

The petitioner's counsel V K Singh had also urged the court to direct authorities to tighten the screening of passengers at airports and to ensure that the advisories issued by the Centre and state must be adhered to in letter and spirit.

Hearing the lawsuit, the bench also directed the authorities to ensure adequate availability of personal protection equipment kits and N95 masks.

Seeking details till date of the number of persons affected with COVID-19 and if the patients have been kept under observation, the bench also asked CMOs of the government hospitals as well as the principal secretary and director (Health) to apprise it whether their samples have been taken for tests.

The bench also expressed grave concern when it was told that some of the affected persons have been shifted from one hospital to another without any proper medical treatment.