Health centres told to screen patients with symptoms

GHAZIABAD: After launching a SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) ward at the MMG District Hospital, the district administration on Sunday directed the medical staff deputed at all community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) to screen patients arriving there for breathing troubles, ILI (influenza-like illness) and take their samples for Covid testing.

Patients’ oxygen saturation level will be checked with the help of oximeters to rule out health conditions like “happy hypoxia” and related ailments.

The phenomenon called Happy hypoxia takes place when oxygen levels of a Covid patient’s body go as low as nearly 60. The patients can feel normal initially but his condition deteriorates and they collapse.

Besides, the health department has been asked to depute more teams for carrying out surveys in the district.

A review meeting of the health department’s Covid preparedness was held on Sunday. District magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said, “Instructions were given to the medical department for intensive action under the triple-T scheme (tracing, testing and treatment). Health officials have been asked to do compulsory testing of primary contacts of a positive patient and those who show symptoms. The health department will give emphasis on door-to-door survey.”