Karnataka seeks Central rules on medicos for Covid duty
PM tells states to reduce fatality rate to 1%, trace contacts in 72 hours
BENGALURU:
Karnataka has requested the Centre to frame guidelines for the utilization of final-year MBBS and degree students for Covid duty so as to ensure an adequate supply of trained manpower. The state also wants the number of undergraduate and P-G medical seats increased to 10,000 and 2,000 respectively.
These were among the points discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his videocon with chief ministers of 10 states on Tuesday. In place of CM BS Yediyurappa, who is in home quarantine after being discharged from a city hospital, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar helmed the talks with the PM. Also present from Karnataka’s side were DCM Ashwath Narayan and Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar.
Briefing reporters later, Sudhakar said the PM had urged state governments to reduce the Covid fatality rate to 1% and ensure tracing of primary contacts within 72 hours.
Aiming at 75K tests daily
Highlighting the steps taken by Karnataka, the minister said testing has been ramped up from 20,000 tests to nearly 50,000 per day, and will be increased to 75,000 with a good mix of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen tests. 1,300 mobile testing teams have been deployed for RA tests.
He said the government was paying for testing and treatment of all patients, including those referred to private hospital. Remdesivir was being given to government-referred patients in private hospitals, and a plasma bank has been established. Around 1,600 oxygen beds have been added to the existing 5,500 oxygen beds in government hospitals, with a target of 20,000 such beds by September-end.
The minister said 3,246 home quarantine violators have been moved to institutional quarantine, 12,000 arrested and 5,821 FIRs filed.
Sudhakar claimed the case fatality rate had reduced from 2.1% in July to 1.8% in August.
Participated in the video conference held by PM @narendramodi and Defence Minister @rajnathsingh with Chief Ministers of several states. Briefed Hon'ble PM about the measures taken by State Government to contain the spread of pandemic. (1/2)@BSYBJP pic.twitter.com/jb6YtvII46
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) August 11, 2020
Hon'ble PM assured all necessary support to the state by Central Government. DCM @drashwathcn, Chief Secretary and senior officials were present. Health Minister @sriramulubjp participated though online. (2/2@BSYBJP pic.twitter.com/II8AllsV82
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) August 11, 2020
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