Hyderabad: Telangana state health minister Etela Rajender on Wednesday appealed to people not to give into anxiety or panic over possibility of the coronavirus infections. He said the state government was following the Centre’s guidelines on identifying and treatment of any possible case of the disease in the city and across the state.
“Arrangements are in place at the Fever Hospital for admitting anyone who might want to get checked for the disease and for treatment. Steps are being taken to put into place all required systems in place in the Gandhi and the Chest Hospitals, which between them would have 100 beds in special wards,” Mr Rajender told a news conference.
He said that screening of all passengers flying into the city from anywhere in China, from where the virus originally emerged, and from other countries is already in place. “If anyone thinks they have flu like symptoms, they can contact the government helpline,” he added.
Telangana wants to test samples in state labs
The Union Ministry of Health has set up a 24-hour helpline (011-23978046) that people can call to get information about the district and state surveillance officers, and in case they have any clinical query, they get connected to an Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officer.
Mr Rajender, who said samples from three more patients were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing, said that with temperatures set to rise in coming weeks, it was very likely that coronavirus would not be able to survive in such conditions.
“Typically, the virus needs cold weather to last that could lead to infections. Compared to swine flu, which has a mortality rate of 10 per cent, the new virus is being said to cause four per cent mortality among those infected,” the minister said.
“The state government has asked the Centre to allow it to use state-of-the-art diagnostic labs it runs in the city to be allowed to carry out testing for virus. This will eliminate need to rush samples to Pune. We have asked for diagnostic kits be given to the state so we can do the tests here,” he said.
The health minister called on people to practice simple hygiene such as not coughing or sneezing without covering the mouth with a handkerchief and making sure they wash their hands often.
“If in any doubt, contact Fever Hospital or the helpline for guidance and assistance,” he said. “There are some unfounded ‘news’ reports that are making rounds on social media. People should not blindly share or forward such messages.”
A three-member team of officials from the Centre that visited the city to inspect airport screening procedures and facilities at hospitals, has made some suggestions which the government is implementing, Rajender said.
He allayed fears that adequate equipment and medicines for treating possible cases were not available at hospitals in Hyderabad. “Whatever is required to treat a patient, will be made available. Our doctors and staff are being trained again on handling patients and samples,” Mr Rajender added.
