Andhra Pradesh Govt announces its Covid preparedness

AMARAVATHI : The Andhra Pradesh government announced on Monday that it is fully prepared to combat the COVID19 spike and is closely adhering to its five-step approach of testing, tracking, treating, immunising to contain COVID transmission.

The state government established 29 RTPCR labs across the state to test suspects, and 15 lakh RTPCR test kits were made available for use if any symptomatic cases were reported. Ten COVID rapid test kits were distributed to Dr. YSR Village Clinics in order to test any symptomatic people in the rural area. A total of 3 lakh kits were also readily available, and RTPCR test kits have been made available in PHCs to teaching hospitals for timely testing.

In addition, the state had established an INSACOG genome sequencing lab in Vijayawada. Positive samples from RTPCR labs are required to be sent to this lab for further testing. From December 21 to date, 5,548 RTPCR tests were performed, with 5 positive samples identified, and 22,123 rapid tests performed, with 1 positive sample identified and 0.002% positivity.

The 130 positive cases did not require hospitalisation, and all were found to be negative after seven days. The genome sequencing lab examined the 48 covid positive samples further and discovered a new subtype of omicron - XBB - with similar characteristics to Omicron.

According to the revised GOI guidelines on testing of International Travellers, airport testing centres have been established in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupathi, and 97 passengers have been tested, 89 of whom are negative, and 8 samples are awaiting results. Passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore were subjected to additional screening.

All health facilities, from village health institutions to medical college institutions, had sufficient manpower (specialists, general duty medical officers, staff nurses, technicians, and support staff). All trained personnel who had served in previous covid waves were ready to handle any surge in the cases. Refresher training in covid management would be provided in the coming week.

General Beds-12292, Oxygen Beds-34,763, ICU Beds-8,594, Paediatric ICU Beds-1,092, Ventilators-5,813, Paediatric Ventilators -5,610 Neonatal Ventilators - 297, and Isolation Quarantine Beds-54,000 available to handle any surge in COVID19 cases.

Personal protection equipment such as sanitizers, masks, gloves, and PPE kits were made available in sufficient quantities.

All district drug stores contain adequate stock of drugs such as Ivermectin tablets, Apixabin tablets, Dexamethason tablets, and Home Isolation Kits.

The state government had installed 170 PSA plants to support 24,419 oxygen beds, and has kept 105 Power Generators and 82 Transformers ready for backup power. To transport and store liquid oxygen, 74 LMO tanks and 25 cryogenic tanks were bought. To support 24,419 oxygen beds, oxygen pipelines were installed, and 55,933 D-type oxygen cylinders were purchased. 34,021 oxygen concentrators were bought and made available, to accommodate COVID patients. Oxygen concentrators and PSA plants were regularly operated in order to be prepared for any eventuality.