With cities in lockdown, the vulnerable women are left with no choice but to knock on the doors of one or the other hospital till finally they are referred to Chandigarh

Amid curfew in the districts adjoining Chandigarh, pregnant women are having harrowing time as an already burdened health infrastructure deals with the pandemic. While cities are locked down, these women are being forced to travel from one government hospital to another only to be referred to Chandigarh.

Writhing in labour pain, Jaspal Kaur, a 31-year-old pregnant woman, reached a health centre in Kurali at 3am on March 25, only to be referred to Kharar at 9am because, apparently, “the doctor had not arrived”. At 1pm, she was referred again to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16 citing “blood level is too low”.

Requesting the authorities “not to refuse them at the last moment, Kaur said, “We have great trust in you, but when the time (of delivery) comes, you ask us to leave and find another hospital. Amid such circumstances, it becomes difficult to make arrangements last moment.”

Breaching all precautionary measures to be taken against coronavirus infection, a 25-year-old Sarita Devi was made to wait outside an ESI hospital in Baddi for four hours as the hospital reluctantly agreed to arrange for transporting her to Chandigarh. This, after the hospital staff earlier refused to attend to her, citing “non-availability of labour inducing drug”.

Tired and on the verge of a breakdown, Sarita said, “My delivery was scheduled for today, but at noon I was asked to go to Chandigarh. I waited till 4pm outside the hospital and it was after much reluctance that they arranged for an ambulance.” It was learned that the doctor there was unavailable.s

Similar was the case of Neetu Devi of Bulongi, Mohali, whose delivery was scheduled at Mohali civil hospital, but she was referred to Chandigarh at the last moment. Rinky, a 30-year-old pregnant woman, was referred from Dera Bassi civil hospital to Mohali, and from there to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and yet again to Mohali, She finally came to GMSH-16.

ADMISSIONS TO LABOUR ROOM HALVED

In January, there were 195 referrals from three districts—Mohali (130) , Ropar (64) and Fatehgarh Sahib (1)—and in February, the number was 135. In the last 10 days, the hospital has seen 40 referrals, out of which 26 are from Punjab.

“Amid curfew, it becomes difficult for families to look after patients and newborns. They have to make frequent visits to the hospital,” she said.

PREGNANCY AND CORONA

“According to the guideline issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pregnant women are equally at risk just like the normal population. There is no documented evidence of transmission from mother to baby in the womb and neither via breast milk,” Dr Kang said.

She advised pregnant women to restrict going out, maintain social distancing, take good diet and multi-vitamins and do moderate exercise.

“Due to the pandemic, they should avoid routine check-ups, and visit hospitals only in case of emergencies like labour pains, bleeding or leakage. If you are suffering from dry cough and sudden onset of high grade fever, you should visit a healthcare facility immediately,” she said.

People struggle to get their hands on food packets, while completing forgetting social distancing, the primary objective of curfew; several return empty handed

Even as supply of vegetables and milk improved gradually in sectors, people from the economically weaker sections struggled with erratic supplies, with many swarming near vendors and supply trucks, inviting infection risk in a city under curfew for the third day to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Food packets to the poor promised by the UT administration did not reach parts of the city’s labour and slum colonies, checks with people there revealed.

The situation in Dhanas turned tense as police were called in to disperse a crowd of over 200 gathered in a colony park after a local political promised to distribute free food.

Social distancing was impossible in a colony where more than 50,000 people lived in 8,400 cramped housing units, said Prem Pal Chouhan, president of the Dhanas Rehabilitated Colony Welfare Association.

No grocery or vegetables reached the area. “I dialled one vendor as per the UT list but he replied he had not been given a vehicle for distribution of essentials,” Chauhan added.

“On top of that, some politicians are luring crowds by promising them free rice and sugar. Is this how we will stem the coronavirus threat?” he asked.

Distribution vehicles mobbed

Supplies organised by the administration were not enough for crowds that virtually mobbed two trucks in Dadumajra to get the Rs 750 packages, each containing 10 kg flour, some pulses and spices for colonies.

Area councillor Farmilla said the trucks were sent after she made repeated calls to MC officials, but people forgot about social distancing and crowded around the vehicles, stripping them bare in minutes.

“A majority were left empty handed. This kind of distribution is very dangerous. I urge the UT to keep chemist and grocery stores open in peripheries and allow only one person per home to buy essentials,” she said

Local shops closed

Many poor families went hungry as police didn’t allow local shops to open in Mauli Jagran near Manimajra.

People did not get essentials such as flour and sugar for two to three days, said local resident Mukesh Rai.

None of the shops have stock. “The administration should give shopkeepers passes so that they can restock their shops and feed people,” Rai said.

Former mayor Rajesh Kalia, who represents Maloya colony, urged the administration to focus more on distribution.

Police had to be called to control the crowds in the Makhan Majra labour colony, many of them who had been unable to earn anything in the last few days. Shashi Shankar Tewari, a senior Congress leader active in colonies, said thousands of daily wagers had no money to feed their families and UT’s free ration was not reaching them.

He asked the administration to engage NGOs and religious organisations to distribute free food over there.

Blaming the BJP for the mismanagement on the ground, Congress local president Pardeep Chhabra said, “We do understand that things are not smooth during the lockdown but it is unfair that the poor sleep on empty stomachs.”

BJP local president Arun Sood said that Congress should not play politics, adding, “Our workers are helping in distribution and coordinating with the UT administration to streamline the system.”

MC commissioner KK Yadav was not available for comments despite repeated attempts

TROUBLE SPOTS

Local milk producers not getting feed for cattle that can affect milk supply and starvation of animals

People going cashless as ATM are closed and mobile ATMs are not covering all spots

Officers keeping their mobile switched off, adding to the woes of the residents

Closed flour mills could mean shortage of flour in the near future

Sanitisation not being done near homes people in quarantine

MP Ravneet Singh Bittu has given Rs 1 crore to the district health department out of his MPLADS funds to buy medical equipment.

The department has decided to purchase 51 infrared thermometers, 5,100 PPE kits, 2.1 lakh triple-layer face masks, 38,250 latex gloves, 4,250 litre sanitiser, six X-ray machines, 20 oxygen cylinders, 20 wheelchairs and 20 stretchers

Though social distancing is crucial in the fight against coronavirus, that seems to be the last thing on the Chandigarh municipal corporation’s mind.

On Thursday, a large number of vendors were seen assembled at MC’s office in Sector 17 for curfew passes, having long forgotten the Prime Minister’s appeal to maintain social distancing.

Most of them sat outside the building in close contact for over half a day, waiting for passes to sell essentials. A similar crowd was seen outside the DC office in Sector 17.

While vendors rued the long delays in approvals with many even being sent home without passes, there was apparently no system in place to manage the crowd despite clear instructions of social distancing.

City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations (CFORWO) convener Vinod Vashisht said, “Why is MC allowing them to gather at one place? There is lack of planning, which exposes MC’s inefficacy. Home delivery system is not working at all. Bigger districts are doing far better than a tiny Chandigarh.”

MC executive engineer Ajay Garg, nodal officer for vegetable and fruits distribution, said he was not aware of the crowd outside the office. “They probably came for grocery passes but I am not handling that,” he said.

Uma Shanker Gupta, the one in-charge of granting passes for groceries, was unavailable for comments.

Kanta, 50, who sells goods at Ram Darbar, said the police stopped her on Sunday and asked her to get a pass. “I initially went to the DC office from where I was sent to the MC office. I came here as early as 7am, but no one is helping me,” she said.

Another woman standing nearby said they had been standing in the crowd for hours, putting their lives at risk, but the officials sitting in the MC office were least concerned.

“I am not allowed to open my shop in Mauli Jgran for the last two days. People in the area are banking on me, but police are not allowing me to open the shop without a pass. Where should I go?” she asked.

Meanwhile, there were also reports that the MC’s internal staff was busy giving passes to those known to them.

MC enforcement sub-inspectors were even seen filling the forms of people known to them while ignoring the claims of other sitting for hours. Ram Chand from Indira Colony said it was unfair. “I live hand to mouth. Ever since the curfew has been imposed, I have not earned much. How will I sustain my family?” he asked.

Coronavirus cases in the country have seen a sharp rise in the month of March. The virus has infected more than 700 people across the country, while 17 people have succumbed to death. Over 60 people have made a recovery and have been discharged across the nation. Maharashtra and Kerala remain the top two worst coronavirus-hit states in the country.

Here’s a look at the statewise tally of Covid-cases, deaths and recoveries in India.

Kerala

The southern state has 137 positive cases of coronavirus as per the latest data by the Ministry of Health. The state hasn’t witnessed any Covid-19 death yet. 11 people have successfully recovered.

“This is the time for youth to shoulder responsibility. We are planning a volunteer force of 2 lakh members. Food supply to hospital work they will be trained. Their expenses will be met by local and civic bodies,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

Maharashtra

With 130 Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra is one of the worst hit states by Covid-19 infection. The state has registered four coronavirus deaths so far while 15 patients have been recovered and released.

Karnataka

The state has recorded 55 Covid-19 cases and two deaths. Three people have been cured and discharged.

Telangana

45 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported here so far. One person has made a recovery from the virus while no one has died of Covid-19 in the state.

Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state has registered 43 coronavirus cases and no recoveries so far. As many as 3 people have died from the infection in the state.

Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

Both states have 41 positive cases of coronavirus. While 11 people have recovered from Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan has seen three people get better and discharged.

Delhi

As many as 36 people have been tested positive of coronavirus in the national capital. One person has died from the infection while 6 people have made a recovery.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged citizens not to step out of their homes and has assured that no one will go to sleep on an empty stomach. He also assured a smooth supply of all essential commodities across the National Capital Territory.

Haryana and Punjab

The neighbouring states have 30 and 33 Covid-19 cases respectively. While one person has died of coronavirus in Punjab, Haryana has seen no deaths. 11 people have been recovered from coronavirus in Haryana.

Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh

The southern state has registered 29 Covid-19 cases and one recovery. Madhya Pradesh closely follows with 20 positive cases of coronavirus in the state. Both states have registered one death each.

Besides this, Jammu and Kashmir has 13 positive cases of coronavirus. One person has died from the infection while one was cured. Andhra Pradesh has 12 positive Covid-19 and one recovery cases while West Bengal has 10 people who tested positive for the infection with one death.

In Chandigarh, 7 people were found infected from Covid-19. Chhattisgarh and Bihar have recorded 6 cases each with one death in Bihar.

Uttarakhand has 4 coronavirus patients, one person has recovered. Goa and Himachal Pradesh have recorded 3 cases each, one patient has died in Himachal. Odisha has just two Covid-19 positive patients. States and Union territories with just one positive Covid-19 case include Andaman, Manipur, Mizoram and Pondicherry.

Coronavirus killed eight more people in India on Thursday and 88 new cases – the highest in a single day – were confirmed.

On Friday, India entered the third day of the 21-day long nationwide coronavirus lockdown announced by PM Modi to break the chain of Covid-19 infections in the country.

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 2

Resident doctors and staff nurses of Government Rajindra Hospital here were exposed to the coronavirus for no fault of theirs. Consequently, resident doctors had to undergo self-isolation for precautionary measures.

In fact, 42-year-old corona suspected patient from Ludhiana, who died at the hospital later, was brought to the Emergency first before taking her to the isolation ward — breaching the COVID-19 protocol.http://

The staff at emergency, who were not supposed to wear protective gear, examined the patient clinically without proper kit, thereby exposed themselves to the virus.

As per the ICMR guidelines, all COVID-19 suspected patients have to be taken directly to the isolation ward — a special dedicated room for the positive patients. Due to the missing link in the chain of communication, resident doctors at the emergency ward at the hospital had already been exposed to the virus, said the experts.

Worryingly, the resident doctors, thereafter, treated many other patients at the emergency ward, therefore, those (patients) are also at risk of infection and should be traced, say the experts.

Though, hospital authorities claim that resident doctors on duty were wearing masks and gloves, experts said personal protective equipment (PPE) kit is necessary for treating suspected patients.

Until now, the emergency ward has not been sanitized. Though, as many as four resident doctors who were exposed to the COVID-19 patient have already self-isolated themselves.

Meanwhile, senior doctors at the hospital said they were scared to work under these circumstances where protocols were not strictly followed.

A doctor of the medicine department, said, “The entire ward and medical devices used on that day should have been sanitized. The negligence creates a sense of fear among doctors.”

Dr Paras Pandove, Medical Superintendent, said it was not negligence but lack of communication. He said that first it was a referred case, therefore, the authorities who referred the patients had to inform in advance; second, kin of the patient could have informed about the same.

He added, “We have already deployed a special doctor at the emergency ward, who will be equipped with the PPE kit, to check the patients so as to avoid such incidents. We are trying our best so that our doctors are not exposed to COVID-19.”

Even as the local authorities have been tasked with handling the nitty-gritty of implementing the 21-day lockdown announced by the Prime Minister and ensuring that the 1.3 billion people of the country get regular supplies of essential groceries, vegetables, milk and medicine at their doorstep, the situation on the ground on Day 2 of the ‘curfew’ continued to be marked by hiccups galore and a confusion-driven scramble for supplies. The yawning gap between the planning and execution exposed chinks in the management of the supply chain, right from trucks carrying goods and retailers to the delivery boys. The smooth flow of the chain was disrupted for reasons varying from highhandedness of the law enforcers, lack of permits or sealing of borders across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The lucky few who got the supplies felt short-changed, especially with vegetables.

Responsible residents abiding by the orders to stay at home were harried as the phone numbers put out for home delivery of essential items in Chandigarh remained inaccessible. Elsewhere, when some district authorities in the region gave a relaxation in the curfew for the people to go out and shop, items flew off the shelves as panic-buying and hoarding ruled, despite the overcharging. With social distancing going for a toss as people thronged chemist shops and grocery stores, questions arise about the purpose of the lockdown getting defeated. The possibility of the insidious coronavirus spreading in the community definitely goes up.

For the fight against the virus to succeed, there is an urgent need to fix the supply chain hiccups. The operations of production, supply and distribution should not be hampered. The help of local resident welfare associations and volunteers may be solicited. A continuous flow of goods is essential to tide over the trying times. Use of technology and apps to keep the people informed would go a long way in ending the present state of confusion. And, only when a person is assured of a running kitchen, and his health needs are met would he be in a position to abide by that other equally vital request of the PM: each one, help nine poor families.

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 2

Former Hazoori Ragi of the Golden Temple Nirmal Singh Khalsa died of cardiac arrest around 4:30 am on Thursday.

According to the Amritsar Civil Surgeon, he had tested posted for coronavirus on Wednesday. It was the second positive case from the district and the “first corona death”.

Earlier, a coronavirus-positive patient from Hoshiarpur had died at Amritsar Government Medical College.

The 62-year-old ‘Gurbani’ exponent was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009.

Singh, who recently returned from abroad, was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital after he complained of breathlessness and dizziness on March 30.

Meanwhile, police have sealed the area around Singh’s residence to check the spread of the infection.

With his base in the densely populated Sultanwind area, the development would add to the trouble of the administration.

He had come back from abroad in February and later attended many religious events, including accompanying Zakir Hussain, the tabla player, to Golden Temple on February 29.

This is a day after Zakir Hussain performed at a jam packed Patiala auditorium as part of the Patiala Heritage Festival on February 27, a day after which he visited Amritsar.

Details regarding his travel history and events are being ascertained by the authorities.

According to the officials, Singh held a large ‘sammelan’ (religious gathering) in Delhi and some other places after he returned from abroad.

His family members and others who came into his contact would be quarantined, said the health department officials.