HARYANA LAUNCHES THIRD ROUND OF COVID-19 SERO SURVEY

In a bid to tackle the pandemic, Haryana is leaving no stone unturned. Health Minister, Anil Vij on September 7, 2021 launched the third round of COVID-19 Sero survey in the state here. He informed that the first round of Sero Survey was conducted in August, 2020 in which the prevalence of Covid-19 infection was found to be 8 per cent. Similarly, the second round was conducted in October, 2020 in which the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was found to be 14.8 per cent. He shared that about 2,200 medical staff have been deputed to conduct this Survey and the report of this Survey would be submitted within two weeks. Besides this, less than 15 cases of Covid are being reported in the last one month and he is confident that the State will soon be Covid-free.

Vij said that this Sero Survey will have a broader perspective than the one conducted earlier as 36,520 samples would be taken whereas in the last survey about 18,500 samples were taken. He said that children above 6 years of age will also be covered in this survey and it will also be conducted in rural and urban areas. This time around 3,600 children in the age group of 6 to 9 years, 11,000 between the age of 10 to 17 years and 22,000 persons above 18 years of age will be included in the Sero Survey being conducted this time. In this Survey 60 per cent of the people in rural areas and 40 per cent in urban areas will be covered. The Health Minister said the report of this Survey will be submitted within two weeks so as to prepare for the speculated third corona wave.

Vij said that so far about 1.73 crore eligible beneficiaries have been administered vaccine in Haryana and the State is near to administering vaccine to its eligible beneficiaries as vaccination is the only shield against corona infection. He said that the work of vaccination to all the people of the state is being done expeditiously.

He informed that Haryana has been allotted 42 Oxygen plants by the PM Cares Fund and they are being installed. In addition, 139 oxygen plant tenders have been floated and it has been directed to all the government hospitals having more than 50 beds to set up PSA plants and likewise all private hospitals above 50 beds should also have their own PSA plant. He said that he is confident that Haryana will soon become self-sufficient in terms of oxygen.