Joint steps taken to prevent spread of COVID-19: Minister

: Puducherry Health Minister

Malladi Krishna Rao on Monday said the administration has launched coordinated steps such as associating private medical colleges and universities and Revenue Department to implement measures to prevent spread of coronavirus in the Union Territory.

Talking to newsmen here after meeting with officials of the Health Department and other departments to review steps taken so far to keep coronavirus at bay here, the Health Minister said already Rs 7.5 crore had been set apart in the first phase for the health department to buy equipment to prevent the spread of the infection.

He said nearly 400 beds have been readied in the government hospitals and also in private hospitals here to rise to any exigency.

 

The cooperation of private medical colleges had been sought in providing vehicles to strengthen the fleet of vehicles in health department and also to ensure sufficient manpower, he said.

Batting for holiday for classes beyond standard V and also for the professional colleges like medical and engineering in the Union Territory, Malladi Krishna Rao said such system of declaring holidays for all institutions was adopted in Telangana and in Andhra Pradesh.

"We can emulate this while exempting classes having public examinations from holidays," he said.

A decision would be taken in consultation with the Chief Minister and Education Minister, he said.

Rao, who is also in charge of Tourism, said the Department of Tourism could suspend its campaign of 'peaceful Puducherry' to attract tourists from other parts of the country and abroad as there is every need to prevent flow of large number of people into the former French colony as the need to prevent spread of coronavirus had been felt now.

The Minister said workers attached to the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) would be utilised to spread awareness door-to-door among the people from Tuesday.

Stating that Puducherry had not reported any positive case of coronavirus, he said that regular checking of vehicles at the border points was on.

"We are collecting details of foreigners staying in the private guest houses, hotels and restaurants," he said.

The Minister appealed to media to put in pro-active role and generate awareness among the people on 'dos and don'ts' to be adopted in containing the spread of the disease'.

He said no stone was left unturned to rope in private institutions as a joint and coordinated effort is absolutely necessary as it is a public health issue.