O2 concentrators can now be claimed for free by state officials in Lucknow & other UP districts

In a high-level COVID-19 review meeting conducted on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet has permitted state government officers and employees to avail free oxygen concentrators with their medical reimbursement entitlement. It simply implies that the UP government will incur the cost of O2 concentrators for its employees. The economic respite will be soon authorised by an official circular, as per the directives of the Chief Minister.

Oxygen relief for state officials

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The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh announced that personnel of the state government can now claim for reimbursement for oxygen concentrators, by the authority of a doctor's prescriptions. This will usher in economic support to workers and their families, during these tough times of the pandemic. Besides this, the state also regulated the fares of private ambulance services and the treatment of COVID patients in private hospitals to ensure financial benefits for the general public.

Additionally, the Chief Minister has directed related officials to provide work-from-home facility to the sick or disabled government employees and pregnant staffers in private offices. Parallelly, the cabinet head emphasised that more than one-third of employees should be present at government offices at one time, to honour the norms of social distancing.

COVID medical infrastructure to be raised in UP

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Besides this, the state has decided to ramp up COVID management across UP by means of increased helplines, testing, tracking and treatment facilities. As per reports, about 10 new telephone numbers will be activated at the Integrated Command Control Centres, in each district, to address public woes and emergencies. Besides this, oxygen availability at L-1 hospitals, beds in COVID hospitals and other facilities will also be increased.

Streamlined with this scale, the District Magistrate of Lucknow, Kanpur and other regions in UP have been asked to increase the number of rapid response teams in their jurisdictions. These teams will also be tasked to run special campaigns in rural UP to screen and test the citizens there, for the coronavirus infection.

Officials need to ensure that COVID-19 patients in home isolation receive the medical kits on time. The entire campaign will be reviewed by the Chief Secretary's office and the Chief Minister's office, read reports. Further, the monitoring committees have been tasked to ensure that the ICCCs are upgraded with the necessary information of these isolated patients.

Vaccination for 18+ age group to begin in 11 districts

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The Chief Minister informed that the vaccination for the 18+ age group (phase 3 inoculation) will begin in 11 more districts in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. He has directed the local public representative and the minister in charge, to be present at any vaccination centre during the launch of the immunity drive. Their presence will encourage the people to come and get the jab.