Amid the rapidly increasing Covid-19 cases, the Centre has released guidelines for the states to deploy medical and nursing students for Covid-19 care.
In new guidelines released by the Union health ministry, the ministry has directed the states to deploy medical and nursing students for Covid-19 care. The step is being taken to manage the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country. Right now, there is uncertainty over when and where the third wave will peak.
The ministry wants the country to be prepared for increasing cases. Although, as compared to the second wave of Covid-19, so far in the current wave less hospitalisation is being witnessed. During the second wave, nearly 20%-23% of people needed hospitalisation. Whereas, in the current wave, only 5% to 10% needed hospitalisation till now.
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to the states, “The situation is dynamic and evolving, therefore, the need for hospitalisation may also change rapidly,” as reported by The Telegraph.
He has urged the states to keep a daily watch on the numbers of patients in hospital, intensive care, ventilator support, and oxygen.
The guidelines also specify the kind of jobs that could be assigned to the medical and nursing students when the need may arise. There are specific tasks that can be given to interns, junior and senior residents, final-year MBBS students, third and fourth-year BSc nursing students and first and second-year MSc nursing students.
The number of infected persons is increasing rapidly. On Sunday, nearly 179,000 fresh cases were reported in India as compared to 158,000 cases on Saturday. Experts are trying to predict the peak counts and have diverged estimates for that ranging from 180,000 to 800,000 daily new infections. There is no clarity on how high and quickly the surge will peak.
The ministry has confirmed that the surge is driven by both omicron and delta variants of coronavirus. Epidemiologists have stated that delta is still spreading and could cause infection in vaccinated people or earlier-infected people.
The ministry has asked the states to review the availability and requirement of healthcare workers in each healthcare facility every day and restrict elective procedures in hospitals. The states are also asked to keep a check on the Covid-19 hospitalisation charges by private hospitals and to initiate actions in instances of over-charging.
Read more:
Follow Shiksha.com for latest education news in detail on Exam Results, Dates, Admit Cards, & Schedules, Colleges & Universities news related to Admissions & Courses, Board exams, Scholarships, Careers, Education Events, New education policies & Regulations.
To get in touch with Shiksha news team, please write to us at news@shiksha.com