PATIALA: The government and private hospitals in
Patiala,
Ropar,
Fatehgarh Sahib and
Sangrur districts have come up with isolation wards and ventilators to cater any
coronavirus suspects. However, so far none has reported positive in Punjab. The
Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital has also offered to the Punjab government, 15 beds and 10 ventilators for coronavirus-infected patients.
In Patiala, 27 isolated beds, earlier being used for swine-flu in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Patiala and a special isolation ward for coronavirus has been established whereas 10 isolated beds and a special isolation corner in Mata Kaushalya government hospital has been arranged to treat suspected patients.
Besides this, 4 ventilators have been made available in GMCH Patiala. Private hospitals including Columbia Asia, Patiala heart, Neelam hospital,
Amar hospital and others also have ventilator facilities however the health authorities claimed that the suspected patients will be accommodated at government hospitals first and the facilities at private hospitals will be used at last. The authorities claimed that if required 5 beds each in Nabha, Samana and Rajpura private hospitals.
Patiala civil surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra has also issued an advisory to schools and universities to avoid invitees or meeting visitors from 11 nations especially Thailand and China. The department officials also claimed to have held a meeting with the hotels and restaurant owners and distributed pamphlets among the masses regarding the deadly virus including the precautions and symptoms. He said that all 5 cases have been reported negative for the virus so far in Patiala including 1 from Fatehgarh Sahib.
Ropar civil surgeon Dr HN Sharma said that 3 isolation wards have already been established including 1 each at Ropar,
Nangal and
Anandpur Sahib sub-divisions in the district. Only one case has undergone test for the virus and tested negative so far in Ropar.
Dr NK Agarwal, Fatehgarh Sahib civil surgeon said that 25 isolation wards have been established in the district including 10 in district hospital Fatehgarh Sahib and meeting with Indian Medical Association have been held and they are instructed to brace themselves to assist if need required.