Looming Threat Of Covid-19: 100 Students Test Covid Positive At Patiala Medical College
Chandigarh: As many as 100 doctors and MBBS students of Government Medical College in Patiala have tested positive for the deadly virus yesterday. The radio diagnosis, surgery and gynecology departments are the ones severely hit. Some resident doctors of paediatrics and medicine have also tested positive.
Junior residents, who have tested positive, informed that hospital staff was not following COVID-appropriate behaviour which eventually led to this situation.
After a sudden surge in COVID cases, the district health department wrote a letter to the Rajindra Hospital to ensure that everyone follows COVID-appropriate behaviour strictly. Following this, the district administration held an emergency meeting and asked all students staying at the hostel to vacate their rooms immediately.
“The situation is under control and the state government has directed the district administration and health department to put their best efforts. COVID tests of the students are being conducted by health teams. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has called an emergency review meeting today to take stock of the situation in all districts,” Mr Verka said.
According to Cabinet Minister Dr Rajkumar Verka, around 1000 students in the college hostel have been asked to leave the hostel. He said the similar kind of situation was seen in the Adesh University, where several COVID cases were reported.
The Covid surge in Punjab is particularly alarming as it comes shortly before the state goes to Assembly polls. Ensuring Covid protocols are followed at political rallies and meetings at the height of the poll campaign would be challenge for disaster management authorities as they chalk out their plan to counter the third wave of the pandemic.
According to sources, the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary. The sources said the Health Department’s statistical models predicted that the daily number of cases may reach 1,000 by January 5.
The government has already asked the people without complete vaccination to stay indoors. The sources revealed that there may be more restrictions related to usage of public places. With 417 fresh cases and three deaths reported on Sunday, the state seems to be heading towards the third wave.
