CHANDIGARH: The UT health department has sent an alert considering the threat of a third wave of Covid-19, directing all authorities to be prepared for oxygen supply and other emergency needs.
The alert sent by Yashpal Garg, health secretary, UT, mentioned the positivity rate could be even higher than the second wave that took place during April and May. The next three months up to December 31 were crucial, the alert said.
Private hospitals were advised for installation of pressure swing adsorption(PSA) oxygen generation plants, a mandatory practice for hospitals having 50 or more beds.
Focus was stressed on sufficient number of oxygen cylinders, at least three times of daily requirement and repair of all oxygen pipelines and other equipment. “The staff should be trained for rational use of oxygen training for its optimum utilisation. This training was conducted during the second wave and can again be done on a short notice of three days from any of the private hospitals,” said Garg.
The note said there was also a need to have oxygen concentrators equal to the number of beds in hospitals. “Since oxygen is highly supportive to combustion, the required number of fire extinguishers and hydrants should be available and working conditions of fire audit need to be conducted from the fire department within 15 days,” said Garg.
