Rural areas hit hard by second wave of COVID
The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected rural areas on a a lot bigger scale as in comparison with the primary wave final yr.
During the primary wave, the unfold of the virus was largely restricted to rural pockets in Narsipatnam and Anakapalle (Rural) mandals. However, this time, a big quantity of instances have been reported from the Agency areas as nicely, a senior official within the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) knowledgeable The Puucho.
“If in the first wave the positivity rate in rural areas was around 5-7%, it is now 10-12%, and this can be considered as high, as the total positivity rate in the district was around 35-40% till a week ago, when the second wave was at its peak,” the official stated.
However, in response to him, there was a dip in positivity price within the city areas within the final one week, however it’s but to be seen within the rural and non-urban areas. As predicted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the unfold of the virus in rural areas could possibly be the subsequent large fear, he stated.
The district administration agrees that there are a number of lacunae within the well being infrastructure within the rural areas the place the unfold is speedy, however efforts are on to plug the gaps.
Fever survey is vital
The key to tackling the pandemic in rural and tribal areas lies within the fever survey, stated ITDA Project Officer S. Venkateswar.
“We have already completed eight rounds of survey and we are in the ninth round now. Each survey is taken up for three days and it is done by Asha volunteers, and it is basically done to weed out the persons with symptoms from the rest of the community, said District Collector V. Vinay Chand.
Locals step up
Appreciating the efforts of local sarpanches and local youth, the Collector said that in many parts of rural areas and Agency areas, the locals have come out to start their own isolation centres. The moment a person with symptoms is identified during the fever survey, he or she is moved to the isolation centre if there is no provision of isolation at home. Once admitted, a Rapid Antigen Test is conducted and if required, swabs are sent to Trunat centres at the nearest CHC, said Mr. Vinay Chand.
If one tests positive, an isolation kit is provided for mild cases and those who need hospitalisation are sent to hospitals.
Hospitals
In the rural areas, there are 11 CHCs with 15 beds in each. Some of the beds are compatible for B- or D-type oxygen cylinders. “We have around 200 oxygen concentrators and they are being dispatched to the CHCs,” he stated.
Moderate instances are shifted to the realm hospitals in Araku and Narsipatnam or to the district hospitals at Anakapalle and Paderu.
Both the realm hospitals have round 75 beds every and district hospitals have 100 beds and all are oxygen cylinder appropriate. Serious instances are being shifted to Visakhapatnam, Mr. Vinay Chand stated.