Concerned about the increasing number of Covid-19 pandemic cases due to the second surge, the Andhra Pradesh Government announced a three-pronged strategy to counter it. This was decided at a meeting held yesterday and chaired by the Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to review the prevailing spread of Coronavirus condition in the State.

Till yesterday, Andhra Pradesh reported 89,732 active cases.

The strategy will work from district to the State level and will ensure supply of oxygen, medicines, nutritious food, proper water and hygienic sanitation facilities at Covid hospitals and care centres while also keeping a tab on the bed allotment and services rendered by the 104 call centres.

Most importantly, the strategy will see to it that no private hospital charges more the prescribed price from the patients while also monitoring the medical services provided by these hospitals.

The State has issued orders capping CT scan fee at Rs 3,000 and RT-PCR test at Rs 499 and for setting up of oxygen production plants and continuous electricity supply to hospitals.

To beef up staff for the health care of the citizens, notification will be released for recruiting 1,170 specialist doctors, 1,170 general duty medical officers, 2,000 staff nurses, 306 anesthesia technicians, 330 FNOs, 300 MNOs as 300 sweepers soon.

All the hospitals treating Covid-19 patients under the district will be divided by the District Collector (DC) into clusters. Each cluster will have five to eight hospitals. A district-level for each cluster will be appointed by the DC. Further, the visiting officer to the hospitals will do so frequently in order to monitor them regularly and also ensure that no more than the prescribed fees are charged.

Redressal of complaints have to be done quickly and efficiently. The officer will also take care of those hospitals falling in the cluster but don’t have permission to treat Covid-19 patients but are doing so.

To check the private hospitals, flying squads will be formed by the DC. This squad will include officers from the Drug Control Division, Vigilance Enforcement Division and Medical and Health Department.

At the State level a special task force committee consisting of senior officers will be formed to review the performance of clusters and flying squads in the districts from time to time.

To help officers concentrate on the Covid related work, all the responsibilities concerning the pandemic will be taken care of by the district Joint Collector, whose existing duties will be transferred to others. The responsibilities of the JC include proper sanitation facilities, quality food supply, availability of doctors and paramedical staff, setting up of help desks etc. along with the task of updating data and management of hospitals.

The CM categorically instructed an increase in Covid testing with the results to come in within 24 hours. He emphasised on the need for focussed testing and creating awareness

Further, yesterday the State Government ordered temporary closure of sports complexes, gyms, swimming pools and spas in the State.

In a Press conference, the State’s Principal Secretary (Medical and Health), Anil Kumar Singhal said all public transport vehicles and movie theatres will operate with only 50 per cent capacity and any gathering should not exceed 50 people. These 50 people need to adhere to COVID-19 norms like wearing masks and maintaining physical distance.