13 active Covid cases in Gujarat; mock drill at 5,700 hospitals

One of the 13 cases was detected on Wednesday, said the minister, adding none of the patients are under treatment in hospital. Of the 13 active cases, seven tested positive for coronavirus in Ahmedabad and five of them had travelled overseas recently, said a health department official.

Patel, meanwhile, said the government has carried out a mock drill in more than 5,700 hospitals to assess their preparedness to deal with any health exigency in view of the detection of new cases.

The mock drill was conducted from December 13 to 17 at these hospitals, which included both government and private, Patel said after attending a virtual meeting called by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the wake of detection of JN.1.

“The number of active cases in December was less than October (when there were 20 cases). Currently, we have 13 active cases and none of the patients are in the hospital.” Their swab samples have been sent for genome sequencing to ascertain their variant, he said.

On the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled next month, Patel said, “In cases of JN.1, less virulence has been witnessed. So, people need not panic, but must be alert. It is a variant of interest and not a variant of concern. We will be alert, but there is no need to worry… because of this variant, Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will not face any difficulty.”

The new strain, JN.1, has been classified by the World Health Organisation as a separate “variant of interest” given its rapidly increasing spread, but said it poses a “low” global public health risk.

The SVP hospital in Ahmedabad has prepared an 80-bed isolation ward in anticipation of a surge in cases. Dr Sanjay Tripathi, TB and chest department professor at NHL Muncipal Medical College, affilianted to the hospital, told mediapersons: “As per the guidelines issued by the state government, SVP Hospital is keeping 80 beds vacant. Of these, 20 beds are of ICU. We have also conducted a mock drill for our oxygen plant.”

In Vadodara, SSG Hospital has set up a 26-bed isolation ward. Resident medical ifficer Dr D K Helaiyya said, “As per directions, we have set up a 26-bed isolation ward for Covid-19. We have also readied 40,000 litre oxygen made available from the two plants set up in the hospital and have stocked up on oxygen cylinders and ventilators.”

WITH PTI