THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : With rapid surges in Covid pandemic, the Health Department has put in place all preparations necessary to deal with likely emergency conditions, said Health Minister KK Shailaja. Plan A, Plan B and Plan C were formulated right at the time when govt stepped up preventive measures. 18 committees formed to integrate mitigation activities include Infrastructure Committee and Private Hospital Committee created specifically for the purpose.
Apart from those confirmed with Covid-19, persons under home observation would be treated exclusively in isolation wards, should they develop symptoms of the virus or any other medical condition.. This is the case scenario the Health Department envisaged to formulate its strategies and decide on course of action The number of doctors, nurses and paramedics as also the essentials including medicines, safety gears, and ventilators pressed into service, are being rapidly increased with developmental advance from one plan to the next, said the minister.
Plan A
The State confirmed its first case of the virus with arrival of a student from Wuhan on 30 January. Almost immediately, the Health Department swung into action and prepared Plan A and Plan B. Plan A was put to work instantly. Plan A involves participation from 50 govt hospitals and 2 private hospitals taking their total to 52. As a result 974 Isolation Beds were created and 242 were kept on standby, ready to be converted if need arose. Plan A proved effective as as all three persons confirmed with the Covid were cured completely and also there occurred no transmission of the virus to anybody from these individuals.
Plan B
Plan B was formulated in close succession to Plan A with positive diagnosis of Wuhan student. Plan B spanned 71 govt hospitals and 55 private hospitals raising the number of Covid-oriented treatment facilities to 126. That meant an automatic increase in numbers of isolation beds to 1408 and standbys to 170. Currently the State is being covered by Plan A.
Plan C
In Pathanamthitta, a 3-member family that returned from Italy on 29 Feb and two of relatives who interacted closely proved positive for Covid-19 on 8 March. With this development, the department chalked its Plan C. If people are vigilant in their hygiene, social distancing, seeking timely aid and quarantining. we can successfully contain this pandemic within measures of Plan B. But if the spread is allowed to worsen, Plan C will be put at work.
Plan C will draw on enormous support from all private hospitals across the State, In view of such contingency, all major govt hospitals govt have identified spaces that can be made available at such juncture.. At that time, all patients who are not under emergency care would be sent home while the rest would be accommodated in minimal possible space. Also, 3028 isolation bed facilities would be created across 81 govt and 41 private hospitals raising the covid care hospital numbers to 122. Over and above these arrangements, 218 ICU beds have been set up under Plan B If the situation so calls, Plan B will be expanded to include more private hospitals.
Corona Care Centres
With instructions from Chief Minister, 147 Corona Care Centres have been set up in coordination with various departments, in order to house those flying in from overseas as also those arriving from outside the State with no place in particular to lodge in. The measure is aimed to prevent possible spread from these potential carriers.
Very few are remain in these care centres currently. However their numbers are to this extent so they can be converted into isolation centres, if infection from the virus becomes widespread. Approx 21,866 persons can be accommodated into these centres simultaneously. Many more individuals have expressed willingness to allow conversion of their establishments into corona centre facilities.
The minister called for collective and unified efforts on part all people to resolve overhanging crisis. Though the govt has mobilised large scale arrangements,and preventive measures, we must all be vigilant and observe social distancing measures; those returning from Covid-hit areas should quarantine themselves at home and seek help of authorities without delay, she said.
