Second Wave Of COVID Having Hit Several Parts Of India, Tripura Is Also Not Spared: Tripura HC Seeks State's Response On Several Fronts
Dealing with the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Petition initiated last year suo motu to deal with the first wave of COVID affecting the State of Tripura, the Tripura High Court on Monday (May 10) sought certain details regarding COVID management in the State of Tripura. The Bench of Chief Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice S. Talapatra observed, "The so-called second wave...
Dealing with the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Petition initiated last year suo motu to deal with the first wave of COVID affecting the State of Tripura, the Tripura High Court on Monday (May 10) sought certain details regarding COVID management in the State of Tripura.
The Bench of Chief Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice S. Talapatra observed,
"The so-called second wave of Coronavirus having hit several parts of the country, the State of Tripura is also not spared. Fortunately, however, since the spread across the State was somewhat delayed as compared to other parts of the country, the administration has had a longer notice and therefore more time to prepare to meet with the challenges."
The State administration had filed an affidavit dated May 8, giving details of the availability of medical, paramedical staff, the equipment and other essential supplies to treat the patients who are infected with corona virus.
The Court expressed satisfaction with the number of testing per day and hoped this rate of testing shall continue till it is necessary.
The Court also observed that it was important to wear masks at all public places, to ramp up testing followed by isolation of those who might have recently been in contact with the corona positive patients and lastly, to vaccinate as quickly and as wide a population as possible in order to control the overall spread of Coronavirus.
"Till this is effectively done, treating the patients with different degrees of infection load would require different approaches, treatments and availability of treating staff, medicines and equipment," added the Court.
In this context, the Court requested the State administration to provide by a further affidavit on the next date of hearing. The data which Court required is as follows: -
- Whether there is any scientific model available with the State Government on the basis of which with reasonable accuracy the peak number of Corona-positive cases per day can be predicted.
- If so, on the basis of this model it is possible to project the peak requirement of hospital beds with a break up of those required with oxygen and without oxygen.
- The availability of a total number of such beds with and without the oxygen supply.
- What could be the maximum oxygen demand in terms of units/quantity at the peak of the spread of the virus and what is the availability of the oxygen with the State administration. The source of continuous supply of such oxygen will also be disclosed.
- The availability of Remdesivir dozes and other lifesaving drugs including steroids which may be required in emergency for extreme cases of corona infection. The availability of equipment for treating serious cases of coronavirus shall also be stated.
- Whether the hospitals in the State have any special arrangements for pediatric corona patients and whether any such specialized dedicated ward or arrangement is necessary or would be required in coming days.
- In the affidavit, the deponent has provided the data about the persons already vaccinated for the first time and also second time. The affidavit also states that the State Government has decided to vaccinate the entire population above the age of 18 free of cost.
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