Covid-19 in India: Thermal screening at airports, mock drill from today

In the wake of a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in China, mock drills will be held across a number of health facilities in several states and Union territories from Tuesday to ensure their readiness to deal with any eventuality related to COVID-19, following an advisory by the Centre. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday to take stock of the mock drill to be conducted there. At a meeting with doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday, the minister said, “Based on our previous experience of managing this pandemic, we are undertaking several exercises, one such being the mock drill that will happen across the country tomorrow. Such exercises would help our operational readiness, help in filling gaps if any and will consequently strengthen our public health response.”The exercise will focus on parameters such as the availability of health facilities in all districts, the capacity of isolation beds, oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds and ventilator-supported beds, and the optimal availability of doctors, nurses, paramedics, AYUSH doctors, and other frontline workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers.