Nodal officers appointed in Mahendragarh to check virus spread

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, May 12

The district administration has appointed nodal officers at the village level to make villagers understand the seriousness of the pandemic and enforce Covid protocols in villages.

They have been living in denial mode, refusing to believe that Covid is on their doorstep even though 38 people died of Covid from May 1 to 11 in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar said, “Gram sachivs, patwaris and health workers have been appointed as nodal officers, who will remain in touch with community and public health centres.”

The officers will also be required to help health officials in collecting samples.

In all, 7,423 cases were reported in the district in the past 11 days. A majority of the cases were from villages. The worst-hit being Ganiyar, Pathera, Bhushan Kalan, Dhani Maliayan, Koriavaas, Ateli, Dublana, Agihar, Atali, Khanpur, Khairali, Silarpur, Guda, Dhanauda, Khudana, Buchavaas, Majra and Mahlhrabas.

Many people with Covid-like symptoms died at home. In spite of this, door-to-door survey and testing are yet to start, say sources.

The district administration has directed the Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) to rope in healthy youths to ensure that people comply with Covid protocols in their villages.

They would not only stop gatherings at “chaupals” and other public places in villages, but also encourage villagers to get themselves tested if they developed Covid-like symptoms such as dry cough, fever, headache and body ache.

The DC said, “Isolation centres equipped with five to ten beds are being set up in villages, where the number of cases is high. The centres will be established in government schools or dharmshalas. Buildings near private schools can also be used for the purpose.”

He added 21 micro-containment zones had been set up in the district to check the spread of Covid.