Telangana Health Minister Etala Rajender seems to have had just about enough of the rumours regarding the pressures being faced by the state's healthcare facilities.
The minister again today denied reports about the dearth of oxygen, beds and other critical Covid-19 treatment facilities in the state.
After inaugurating a mother-and-child care wing at the Suryapet Government Hospital with Power Minister G Jagdish Reddy, Rajender told the media that there was no truth in the "rumours" being spread about the shortage of Covid-19 treatment infrastructure in Telangana's hospitals, and urged the public not to believe in such rumours.
Expressing his anger at those spreading the "rumours", he warned of serious action against those spreading the "falsehoods", and reiterated, "We have an adequate supply of oxygen, and enough beds, medicines, doctors, and health staff across all the hospitals in our state. Further, the vaccination drive in Telangana will also be intensified from May 1, and the vaccine will be given to those aged 45 and above. Government immunisation centres will administer up to 10 lakh doses a day. In the meantime, I appeal to the public not to believe in any rumours about the lack of Covid-19 treatment infrastructure in our state."
Reassuring the people further, the minister added, "Our government has made all the necessary arrangements to fight the pandemic. We have directed health officials to amp up testing as well. However, we need the cooperation of the public to effectively manage the situation. I would request people not to panic but to follow all the relevant safety norms instead. Please also refrain from visiting hospitals unless you truly need to as this may expose you to the disease."
Echoing the health minister's words, Jagdish Reddy also said that adequate measures had been taken by the government to arrest the spread of the pandemic, and added that the Collectors had been asked to hire additional health staff temporarily where necessary.
Etala Rajender has been quashing all concerns about the shortage of beds, medicines and other supplies in hospitals for some time now. He has also repeatedly asserted that there is currently
no need for a lockdown in the state.