Taking note of the 400-600 COVID-19 cases being reported every day in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government has mandated physical triaging of all COVID-19 patients. Based on the direction as per an Expert Committee’s advice, the physical triaging of COVID-19 patients was mandated to control the spread of the virus. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Gaurav Gupta, on August 1, issued an order regarding the same.
"It is mandatory to take up a triage of all COVID-19 cases with clinical assessment. The expert committee has opined that early physical triage helps in reducing morbidity and mortality," the order specified. To facilitate early triage, physical triage centres (PTC) would come up at the assembly constituency level and mobile triage units (MTU) will be made available at primary health centres. If a person tests positive for the coronavirus, they have to go to a PTC or MTU as advised and then act according to the directions they receive.
Physical Triaging is an assessment of COVID-19 patients carried out by physicians; based on their condition, they are recommended whether they need to isolate at home or need to be admitted to hospitals. The triaging system was introduced amidst the second wave by BBMP as the civic body and state government grappled with bed allocation to the patients. The BBMP was directed to set up the triage centres across 198 wards in the city by the Karnataka government and it was mandated that people could get beds only after undergoing physical triaging.
In the order issued by the BBMP chief, he stated that patients were refusing to get triaged at either physical triage centres or by mobile triage units. The order also stated that those COVID-19 patients who refuse to undergo physical triage will face punitive action under Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020 and Disaster Management Act, 2005. "No COVID-19 positive patient can deny physical triage either at the centre or by mobile units. If any individual or organisation is found violating the guideline, action will be initiated under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020 and Disaster Management Act of 2005," the order said.
Karnataka on August 1 reported 1,875 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths taking the total cases and toll to 29,06,999 and 36,587 respectively, stated the state health department bulletin. Dakshina Kannada district reported 410 COVID-19 new cases on August 1 and six fatalities; while Bengaluru urban reported 409 new cases, eight fatalities. Other districts in the state too reported infections including 162 in Udupi, 146 in Mysuru, 108 in Hassan, 83 in Kodagu and 65 each in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru.
With IANS inputs