Begusarai district admn on alert

BEGUSARAI: With the fear of a new variant of Omicron looming large, Begusarai DM Arvind Kumar Verma said an intensive mask checking drive will resume in the district. Directives have already issued to police as well as administrative officials in this regard.
“While mask checking drives will be conducted in market areas and other public places, officials have also been asked to see that people observe Covid appropriate behaviour at public places.Common people must cooperate in this regard as without their support the objective could not be fulfilled,” the DM said.
He added: "Though, as of now no case of the new variant has been reported in the state, yet it is imperative that all preparations must be in place to counter any such threat.” Health officials have been asked to ensure that the three oxygen plants installed recently at Begusarai sadar hospital and the primary health centres at Teghra and Balia must be in operational mode latest by Sunday.
“Keeping in view of the fact that the spread of the new variant is much faster than the previous ones, the PHCs in the district would soon have a minimum 15-bed separate Covid-dedicated ward with oxygen facility to avoid any untoward situation,” the DM added.
“The Teghra PHC, which is already equipped with a 30-bed dedicated Covid facility with its own oxygen plant, has been asked to upgrade to 60-bed facility.”
To keep a tab on the spread of the virus, a medical team under Teghra PHC is working in three shifts 24x7 near the main booking counter at Barauni junction to conduct RT- PCR and antigen tests on people coming from other states. Besides, those who have so far not got their vaccination dose are also being administered vaccines. Apart from this, all Asha workers under the district have been asked to keep a watch on people coming from other countries and inform their respective sub-divisional offices.
Begusarai civil surgeon Pramod Kumar singh said more than 3.14 lakh people are due for their second dose of vaccination under the district. “A special drive will be carried out on Saturday. For this, as many as 600 teams of health workers across various blocks will work to meet the target ,” Singh said.