New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed to the Central government to cancel CBSE board exams and introduce alternatives, to ensure the safety of the children in the country, since these examination centres can become COVID-19 hotspots.
He also appealed to the youth to follow all COVID protocols and step out only if necessary, since 65 percent of the patients from the Corona cases that have been registered are less than 45 years of age.
Kejriwal, while addressing a press conference, said, “Corona cases are rising rapidly. In the last 24 hours, we have seen a rise of 13,500 cases. At its peak during the third wave in November, the number of cases was 8500. The present wave of Corona is quite contagious and data shows that the youth and children are getting affected more than ever, contrary to popular opinion about Corona.”
Meanwhile, requesting the Central government to cancel the CBSE exams in view of the Corona surge, CM said, “Next, the safety and security of children is very important to us. In the upcoming CBSE examinations, 6 lakh students will appear and 1 lakh teachers will be involved in the examination process. These examination centres have the full potential of becoming COVID hotspots and given the safety and security of students, it is my humble appeal to the Centreforhat CBSE examinations be canceled. Alternative methods of examination can be accessed. We can either take online exams or assess students on an internal assessment pattern and declare results keeping the tense situation in mind.”
Kejriwal further said that the Delhi government has decided to attach banquet halls and hotels in the proximity of hospitals to increase the bed capacity so that patients who do not require intensive care can be placed in these facilities while those requiring constant surveillance of hospital staff can be admitted into hospitals. The CM added that planned surgeries can be delayed for some time, while emergency surgeries can still happen, as there are enough hospitals to cover for those.
He said, “We need to also bring the hospital management within a system of efficient planning. For example, we are now monitoring each and every patient within the hospital. If doctors feel that a particular patient can be cured from home, they are being requested to go back home. This is not the hospital or the government shirking from responsibility, not at all. We will provide such patients with an oximeter, our doctors will be calling them regularly to keep a check.”
“I request everyone to cooperate with the doctors over this, understand that they are taking everything into consideration and then recommending this step. It is their understanding, based on their expertise that you can be cured at home. I request everyone to have faith and let the hospital management function smoothly. Please understand, we are shouldering the responsibility of the whole of Delhi and their well-being. For us, each life matters,” urged the CM.
He also appealed residents to donate plasma. Kejriwal said, “The daily demand of plasma has increased. I request the citizens of Delhi, those who have recently recovered from COVID, to step forward and donate plasma. You can do this at LNJP and Rajiv Gandhi hospital. This is the time to come together as a people, as a citizen body, as a family and help each other out. If we continue to be proactive and work with the healthcare workers, with the government and for the people of Delhi, we will overcome this fourth wave as well as we overcame the first three waves.”
