Government’s COVID-19 preparedness survey highlights two major problems at district and sub-district levels.
These are as follows:
- Poor health infrastructure: It brought to light severe shortage of ventilators, masks, gloves, and medical staff and doctors in district and sub-district hospitals.
- A large number of migrant population
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances issued a set of posers to District Collectors and IAS Officers (2014-2018 batches) across 410 districts as part of the survey.
Their responses identified the need for enhanced preparedness through the following facts:
| Medical Preparedness Concerns | %age of Officers who agreed to the concerns asked |
| Hospitals were not adequately prepared. | 40 % |
| Non-availability of adequate isolation beds | 28% |
| Availability of adequate isolation beds | 50% |
| People are highly aware of COVID-19 | 92% |
| People are taking precautions to cope with COVID-19 | 75% |
| People are handling the lockdown peacefully and in an orderly manner | 69% |
| People are alarmed and panicking | 31% |
The survey report was released on Friday by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office. As per the official, these facts will serve as a benchmark for policy makers at state as well as national levels.
News Source: The Tribune
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