District Minister holds review meeting 

Mysuru: With Mysuru district witnessing a regular surge in COVID cases, District Minister S.T. Somashekar said that Assembly  Constituency-wise and  MCC Ward-wise Task Force Committees will be formed for better management of COVID pandemic in the city.

This was the outcome of the COVID-19 review meeting of Chamaraja Assembly segment that took place at Jaladarshini Guest House on Hunsur road here this morning.

Soon as the meeting began, Corporators coming under Chamaraja segment complained about lapses on the part of officials in handling COVID crisis.

Raining complaints that concerned officials were not picking up phones and were not responsive to their queries, the Corporators alleged that COVID management had turned into chaos in the Constituency due to shortage of oxygenated and ICU beds and lack of oxygen supplies. They urged the Minister to take some urgent steps for bringing COVID management and Control back on track.

Chamaraja MLA L. Nagendra too charged the officials for their apathetic attitude and complacency in their duties.

Claiming that he was begging officials for beds at Government-run Hospitals for COVID patients who sought his help in getting Hospital admission, Nagendra blamed lack of official co-ordination and improper monitoring for the deterioration in COVID control.

Maintaining that poor patients who were in critical condition at K.R. Hospital and other Government Hospitals are being advised to get shifted to Private Hospitals, the MLA wondered how poor patients could foot the huge bills of Private Hospitals. 

Calling for total streamlining of COVID medical care in Mysuru, the MLA observed that forming of Consituency-wise and Ward-wise Task Force Committees will help in better management of COVID care.

Independent Corporator K.V. Sridhar, who was more critical of the authorities, said that the District Administration should concentrate more on checking the spread of the deadly virus. 

Expressing concern over long delays in issuance of Lab reports, Sridhar stressed on the need for speedy Lab reports as it will hugely help in early treatment of patients and thus prevent deaths.

Suggesting setting up of more COVID isolation care centres across the city, he said that the District Administration should take  complete control of major Hospitals such as Vikram Hospital and B.M. Hospital as it did last year, as such an initiative will address bed issues.

Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri said that people are getting more panicky about increasing number of cases. Pointing out that the second wave is far more different in nature than the first one and needed an altogether different  treatment procedure, she said that with the change in nature, RT-PCR Lab reports, in most cases,  are becoming less reliable in diagnosing the disease at an early stage. 

Maintaining that many patients were found suffering from lung infection despite a negative RT-PCR report, Sindhuri said that co-ordinated efforts are needed for early diagnosis, detection and treatment of the deadly virus. 

Asserting that the first five days of symptoms are vital in the treatment, the DC said that the District Administration has set up COVID Mitra Triage Centres and Helplines for addressing concerns of patients. She appealed the people to immediately call anyone of these Helplines as soon as they develop symptoms, for necessary and proper guidance.

After getting collective opinion from people’s representatives, District Minister Somashekar said that he will be holding a meeting with all MLAs of the city by the end of today on the constitution of Task Force Committees. He further said that these Committees will be headed by respective MLAs and area Corporators.

MP Pratap Simha, Mayor Rukmini Madegowda, MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag, DHO Dr. T. Amarnath, Corporators Prema Shankaregowda, Pailwan Srinivas, Namratha Ramesh, M.U. Subbaiah and others were present.