As many as 309 new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Dhanbad on Thursday, the highest in a single day so far, prompting the district authorities to increase the number of beds available for Covid patients to 1,000 from the present 750.
Deputy commissioner Uma Shankar Singh issued instructions to set up Covid health centres at various departments of Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), including gynaecology, anaesthesia, ENT, opthalmology, paediatrics and general medicine.
“With the rapid increase in Covid cases, the need for more dedicated health centres is being felt. So, it has been decided to develop more Covid treatment centres in various departments of PMCH," Singh said, adding that he has sought detailed proposals to ensure the additional facilities can be developed as per guidelines of Indian Council of Medical Research.
Dhanbad is in the midst of a two-day special testing drive that began on Thursday with the aim of testing 10,500 people.
Deputy commissioner Singh also instructed officials to ensure the completion of all civil work at the new Covid care centres in addition to setting up drinking water facilities, sanitation and internet connectivity. He also asked them to ensure there was an adequate number of para medical staff at these centres.
On Friday, the district administration appointed two nodal officers to monitor the entire process of sample testing, including registration of names of patients, at PMCH and Dhanbad Sadar Hospital.
“The process with regard to entry of names, addresses and mobile phone numbers of patients undergoing swab sample tests at PMCH and sadar hospital is not being followed properly, leading to anomalies in generating specific IDs. Hence, Dr Rajkumar Singh has been appointed nodal officer at sadar hospital and Dr Anupam Kishore as nodal officer for PMCH,” Singh said.
The deputy commissioner said that the same procedures were to be followed while conducting tests at camps held at various blocks. The medical officer in charge of respective blocks will act as nodal officers.
