
Govt orders O2 preparedness drill at all health facilities in Haryana
Secretary to govt of Haryana Dr RS Dhillon has issued instructions to the state's director general health services (DGHS) to "ensure immediate compliance."
All districts have been directed to submit their report by Monday evening.
The move — in line with the directive from the ministry of health & family welfare, govt of India — will evaluate the critical infrastructure in anticipation of any surge in respiratory infections.
All civil surgeons and concerned district-level officers have been directed to "organise and oversee the drills".
NHM director Dr Virender Yadav said, "Each district team comprises nodal officers responsible for testing, home isolation care, logistics and oxygen supply."
"Their consolidated findings are critical for Haryana's health authorities to refine emergency response systems, ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply and improve Covid-19 and respiratory illness management capabilities.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
미소로 적을 베고.무적의 전설을 만들어라!
무신전설 ApesGame
등록
Undo
Districts are already carrying out drills," Yadav said.
Key areas of assessment include the functional status of PSA plants and oxygen concentrators, availability of filled oxygen cylinders and identified oxygen refilling plants, functionality of oxygen pipeline systems and other oxygen delivery equipment like flow meters and ventilators and stock availability of essential items including Covid-19 home isolation kits, RT-PCR kits, RAT kits, extraction kits and VTM vials.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Physician explains brain fog isn't just fatigue: Here's what post Covid 19 patients should know
Back in October 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, The New York Times reported that brain fog is defined by memory loss, confusion, difficulty focusing, dizziness, and even having trouble speaking everyday words. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anand Kalaskar, general physician, Apollo Clinic, Nigdi explained how brain fog can have detrimental impacts on everyday life. Also read | Say goodbye to brain fog: Diet plan for sharper focus, memory and mental clarity Brain fog is a common condition characterised by cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and decreased mental clarity, among others. (Pexels) What is brain fog and what are its symptoms? Dr Kalaskar said, 'Brain fog is a nonprofessional term commonly used to describe a set of cognitive symptoms that include lapses in memory, difficulty with concentration, mental sluggishness, and reduced thought clarity.' This brain fog reportedly affects people who have had mild Covid-19 symptoms as well as those who experienced severe symptoms — it ranges. Dr Kalaskar added, 'In post-Covid-19 patients, brain fog is typically presented as forgetfulness, word-finding difficulty, slowing of processing speed, or persistent mental fatigue. The patients experience themselves as working in a fog and having difficulty focusing or getting things done effectively. The symptoms persist for weeks or months after recovery from acute infection.' Brain fog vs tiredness According to Dr Kalaskar, benign tiredness or fatigue usually resolves with rest, is not notably impairing cognition, and is generally nonspecific. Conversely, he said, neurological impairment from Covid-19 'usually includes objective cognitive impairments such as compromised memory, attentional impairment, disorientation, or executive dysfunction'. 'Clinically, if a patient presents with persistent cognitive impairment interfering with work or activities of daily living, particularly if these are accompanied by headache, dizziness, sleep, or mood change, neurological assessment is warranted. Even in patients with mild illness, brain fog can occur, and so complaints of cognition should not be written off as simple tiredness,' Dr Kalaskar said. Dr Kalaskar added that post-Covid-19, brain fog has been thought to be due to prolonged neuroinflammation provoked by a hyperimmune reaction to infection. 'Microvascular damage – micro clots or endothelial dysfunction – has also been thought to incapacitate oxygen and nutrient supply to brain tissue. Central nervous system invasion by the virus, blood-brain barrier disruption, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation have also been proposed. Mental issues like anxiety, depression, and post-viral fatigue also add to these symptoms,' he said. Can you get tested for brain fog? Dr Kalaskar shared that neurologists resort to 'a combination of clinical evaluation, cognitive screening tests, and imaging when necessary'. Routine tests are the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for memory, attention, and executive function, he said. 'In some cases, more detailed neuropsychological testing is indicated. MRI or functional MRI can be advised to exclude structural changes or vascular illness. Blood tests for inflammatory markers, thyroid function, vitamin B12, and D-dimer can be used to exclude other etiologies. Referral to a multidisciplinary long Covid-19 clinic may be indicated in severe or prolonged cases,' Dr Kalaskar said. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
BSL-3 lab at National Institute of Virology Kerala unit in Alappuzha ready, awaits certification
The establishment of a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Kerala unit, at Kuravanthodu in Alappuzha, has been completed. Officials said the laboratory would be made operational after it receives certification from the Department of Biotechnology under the Union government. Once functional, the facility will enable Nipah virus testing and final confirmation within the State. Currently, samples should be sent to NIV Pune for final confirmation. 'The BSL-3 lab will become operational soon. The trial run commenced three weeks ago and will continue for three months. Once the trial is complete, we will apply for certification from the Department of Biotechnology. After certification, the lab will be able to conduct diagnostic testing and research for various viral diseases, including Nipah. It can also conduct diagnostics, but not research, on Risk Group 4 pathogens,' said an official. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) classifies laboratories into different categories from BSL 1 to 4 based on a combination of laboratory practices, safety equipment, and facilities. A BSL-3 lab is a high-containment facility intended for the testing and research of highly pathogenic and infectious agents. These labs include specialised safety systems and engineering controls. The NIV Kerala unit, functioning under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was initially established as a BSL-2 facility in February 2008. It operated with limited infrastructure at the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, until late 2022, when it was relocated to a newly constructed permanent facility in Kuravanthodu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new facility in Februray 2024. At present, the unit undertakes research on various locally prevalent viral diseases, focusing on epidemiological, virological, immunological, entomological and socio-behavioural aspects. Notably, the NIV Kerala unit was among the first four laboratories in India, apart from NIV Pune, the apex institution, to be designated as a State nodal laboratory for COVID-19 testing at the onset of the pandemic.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AstraZeneca drug lowers high blood pressure in late-stage study
AstraZeneca said on Monday its experimental drug baxdrostat significantly lowered blood pressure in a late-stage trial of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. The news sent shares of the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker up by almost 2%. The company said it expects peak annual sales for the drug to exceed $5 billion, driven by its use as a standalone therapy and in combination with Farxiga , its blockbuster treatment - one that generates $1 billion or more in annual sales - for type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo Baxdrostat met the main and secondary goals of the study, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in systolic blood pressure at 12 weeks when added to standard treatment at two doses, and compared with placebo, AstraZeneca said. It acquired baxdrostat through its 2023 purchase of CinCor Pharma as part of efforts to expand its pipeline in heart and kidney disease. Live Events The drug targets aldosterone, a hormone that raises blood pressure, offering a new approach distinct from older treatments like ACE inhibitors that do not address hormonal drivers, AstraZeneca says. High blood pressure affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. AstraZeneca is testing baxdrostat in four indications, including chronic kidney disease and prevention of heart failure, in a clinical programme involving more than 20,000 patients. Shares in London's biggest listed company by market value were up 1.9% at 0834 GMT and among the top gainers on the FTSE 100 index in early trading. Mineralys Therapeutics is developing a similar drug, lorundrostat, and expects to submit data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year. AstraZeneca said it will present full trial results at a medical conference in August but did not say when it will seek U.S. approval. Its shares are flat this year to date though they have outperformed Europe's benchmark healthcare index by about 5.5%, Barclays analysts said in a note on Monday.