Telangana ready to hike covid19 testing says chief minister

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday said the state government is geared up to increase the number of coronavirus tests and handle increase in number of Covid-19 patients.

“We announced 259 containment centres to stop the spread. Stringent steps were taken to contain it,” he said

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao emphasised the need for adequate test kits to conduct tests on any number of people in the state.

“All medical equipment, including ventilators, doctors, other medical staff, hospitals, and beds are ready. We have 20,000 beds earmarked for the coronavirus patients. Even if the patients increase to one lakh, the government has made all arrangements for their treatment,” he said.

Rao said there is no scarcity of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits and N95 masks which are important for the personal safety of healthcare
professionals in the state.

“Currently, we have 2.25 lakh PPE kits. Very soon, we will have five lakh kits. We have placed orders for yet another five lakh kits, which would take the stock to 10 lakh. We are having 3.25 lakh N95 masks now. Once our orders for additional masks are delivered, we will have five lakh units. We have placed orders for another five lakh masks,“ the Chief Minister said.

Medical and health minister Etala  Rajender said 553 patients are being treated for the Covid-19 disease in the hospitals. Of this, eight were discharged on Wednesday and another 128 would be discharged on Thursday. He said there are 514 active cases as on date in the state.

He said the state would follow the Central government’s guidelines on the lockdown till April 20 and would decide the next course of action based on the prevailing circumstances of the day.

While stating that people have by and large supported the lockdown, the Chief Minister has urged people to further support the steps being taken by his government to fight the highly virulent disease. He also appreciated officials for their handling of the situation.

For continuing sanitation works unimpeded across the state, Rao said the government has released Rs 308 crore for gram panchayats and Rs 148 crore to
municipal corporations for the month of April.