Punjab steps up battle against Coronavirus, will set up 'Flu Corners' in all hospitals

Amid growing scare over deadly Coronavirus, Punjab Government on Monday anunced emergency measures, including setting up of 'Flu Corners' in all government and private hospitals, to prepare for any exigency arising from epidemic. Flu Corners will screen all suspected cases of respiratory tract infections at earliest and ensure that movement of such cases is restricted in order to prevent spread of disease.

A tification to this effect will be issued soon'

Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, took stock of situation triggered by global epidemic, even as one confirmed case each of disease was reported from Delhi and Telangana. " Cabinet approved Punjab Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 under ambit of section 2, 3 & 4 of Epidemic Diseases Act. 1897, to combat menace of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Diseases 2019)," said an official spokesperson after meeting. A tification to this effect will be issued soon, he added.

" private laboratory has been authorized to take or test sample of COVID-19 in State of Punjab, as per tification approved by Cabinet. Furr, person/institution or organization will use any print or media in any form for giving information COVID-19 without prior permission of Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab. spread of any rumours or unscientific information regarding COVID-19 will be a punishable offence under tification," said spokesperson.

As per Cabinet decision, all hospitals in state are being directed to take a suspected patient’s history of travel to any country or area from where spread of disease is being reported, and also history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, from case of respiratory tract infections or case presenting with symptoms similar to coronavirus.

If re is any history of travel or history of contact with a case of COVID-19 in last 14 days of development of symptoms, person has to be kept in hospital isolation and Department of Health has to be informed immediately by that doctor/hospital/clinic.  Any person having travelled to a country or area from where COVID-19 is being reported has to self report to nearest Government Hospital or call at helpline number 104 to inform about travel details so that necessary actions could be undertaken by Health Department.

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Health Department will have rights to admit a person and isolate if a person has visited an area where coronavirus is endemic and person is symptomatic in consultation with Deputy Commissioner of district concerned. In case cases of COVID-19 are reported from a defined geographic area, district administration of district will have rights to implement containment measures in order to prevent spread of disease. Deputy Commissioner of each district is authorized to take action as per tification for COVID-19 in area of jurisdiction of district.

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A committee shall be constituted and tified by Department of Health and Family Welfare under chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner involving SSP, Civil Surgeon and or officers of district to take a decision for measures for containment of COVID-19. Any person/ institution or organization disobeying any regulation or order made under this act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of Indian penal Code (45 of 1860).

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(Im credits: PTI)