40 % COVID cases in armed forces: Health Secretary P Parthiban

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Of the total coronavirus cases in Arunachal Pradesh, 40 % infections are found among the armed forces personnel, said State Health Secretary P Parthiban, adding that the State government is extending all possible help to the armed forces.

"Whenever they enter the State, the tests are done free of cost by the state government. The Covid care centre and the dedicated Covid hospital are all open to the paramilitary forces," the official said.

He added that submitting to antigen tests at the entry gate along with five days of home quarantine or institutional quarantine are compulsory for the people entering the state from other states of the country.

"The Health department will not compromise with the standard operating procedure (SOP)," the Secretary said.

He also said that the State government has ordered one lakh more antigen test kits and they are expected to arrive within the next few days.

"In July, 1,50,000 antigen test kits were purchased directly from the company and distributed to various districts. At present, 50,000 kits are available with us. These kits are directly coming from South Korea through ICMR-approved companies," the Health Secretary informed.

Parthiban further said that there has been a delay in the arrival of the kits because of their rising demands across the country.

He also informed that the dedicated COVID Health Center at Midpu and the dedicated COVID-19 hospital at the MLA apartments at Chimpu, near here, are functioning in full swing. "Two patients with mild symptoms are admitted at the Midpu DCHC, and 12 patients with serious cases are currently admitted at the dedicated COVID-19 hospital," said the Secretary.

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