Hyderabad: Minister Eatala Rajender says mild Covid-19 positive cases from districts not to be shifted to Gandhi

Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Telangana government has decided to treat mild Covid positive cases in state hospitals in various districts instead of shifting them all to Gandhi hospital which is being followed at present. Health Minister Eatala Rajender directed his department senior officials to take steps to establish Covid wards and isolation rooms in District and Area hospitals as well as Community Health Centres. This decision will decrease the patients load at Gandhi hospital, the only Covid designated hospital that is admitting positive patients at present. Due to a big spike of cases in last ten days or so Gandhi hospital is filled to the capacity with over 1500 active cases.

Health Minister held a review with senior officials of the department on this issue on Sunday. It is learnt that those having virus symptoms would be kept in isolation rooms and swab samples be sent to Hyderabad. If the report comes out positive, the infected person's health condition will be checked and if the symptoms are mild the person would be given the option of either home isolation or admission in state hospitals in that district. Only critical cases would be referred to Gandhi hospital.

Meanwhile, Health Minister appealed for people's and society's co-operation in wake of a few incidents reported in the city wherein mild infected cases staying in home isolation faced stiff opposition from neighbors and locals. This happened to a family of three from Jiyaguda who opted for home isolation after testing positive. If all infected people are kept in hospitals, it would lead to increased burden on hospitals and doctors to manage all patients, he felt warning action against neighbors causing trouble.

Eatala appealed to people to impose self lockdown on themselves and not to come out of homes unless it is important as cases are increasing everyday in the state.