Deputy Commissioner Pavan Kumar Malapati expressed his confidence in effectively handling the COVID 3rd wave if any, in future. He added that cases in the district might cross the one lakh mark in the third wave, if any, as compared to around 60,000 in the second wave.
“The district reported around 60,000 cases in the second wave. Nearly 8,000 patients were admitted to various hospitals. The number of positive cases is expected to cross one lakh in a possible third wave. But, we are prepared to effectively handle the situation”, Mr Malapati told media representatives in his office on Sunday.
“The district has already stocked 20,000 COVID-19 kits and 15,000 Remdesivir doses. We have put a mechanism in place to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to all hospitals in the district. We are going to increase the ICU bed capacity at VIMS Hospital and Trauma Care Centre in Ballari city,” added the DC.
The 1,000-bed COVID-19 hospital established at Torangal by JSW Group in association with the district administration will continue to serve patients. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had held a meeting with Deputy Commissioners of the border districts and given instructions to them to take appropriate steps to contain the spread of the virus from neighbouring States.
Terming vaccination as the only lasting solution to COVID-19, the officer said that 8.50 lakh people have received their first dose in the district and 2.40 lakh their second dose. He called upon people to voluntarily come forward to get vaccinated.
The Superintendent of Police Saidulu Adavath expressed deep discontent over people not following COVID appropriate behaviour. “People think that the pandemic has gone and the lockdown is lifted. They don’t wear face masks and maintain social distancing. We will start organising awareness programmes in association with civil society groups. We will think of establishing check-posts on the district borders after assessing the situation next week,” said Mr Adavath.
