Air pollution causes increase in number of patients with respiratory problems coming to LNJP Hospital wing to the increase in air pollution levels after Diwali, the number of patients with respiratory problems coming to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) has increased, said LNJP Managing Director Dr Suresh Kumar on Saturday
New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced various emergency measures, including closure of schools and colleges for a week, ban on construction activities and work from home for government employees, to deal with the pollution crisis faced by the city.
The chief minister, after an emergency meeting, told reporters that his government will also present a proposal for lockdown before the Supreme Court.
Terming the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR an ”emergency” situation, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and the Delhi government on Saturday to take immediate measures to improve the air quality and suggested steps such as stopping vehicles and clamping a lockdown in the national capital.
Kejriwal said the schools will remain closed for one week from Monday in view of high air pollution levels. Work from home will be implemented concerning government offices and a separate advisory on it will be issued for private offices, he said.
The government offices will follow work from home for one week, according to a Delhi government statement.
Construction activities will be prohibited in Delhi from November 14 to 17.
The chief minister said that pollution level is rising in Delhi due to stubble burning in neighbouring states and called upon all stakeholders to work together to combat it.
The pollution level has gone up in the past few days. Data shows the air was clean with the air quality index below 100 till September 30, but it has been increasing afterwards continuously due to crop residue burning in neighbouring states, Kejriwal said.
”This is not the time to point finger. The Delhi government only wants to provide relief to Delhiites and children from emergency-like situation and ensure they breath fresh air,” he said.
The government is closing down schools from Monday for one week so that children don’t have to venture out of their homes and breath polluted air, he said.
Schools will be closed physically although virtual classes will continue.
In a tweet later, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, ”All schools, colleges and educational institutes in Delhi to remain shut next week as pollution levels hit emergency level.” He said the Delhi government is not imposing lockdown but it will submit a proposal in the Supreme Court after taking the central government into confidence and consulting all central agencies as it will be an extreme step.
The chief minister said all the stakeholders should work together to combat the problem of air pollution in Delhi.
Meanwhile, air pollution causes increase in number of patients with respiratory problems coming to LNJP Hospital
wing to the increase in air pollution levels after Diwali, the number of patients with respiratory problems coming to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) has increased, said LNJP Managing Director Dr Suresh Kumar on Saturday.
“Increased level of pollution in Delhi is a matter of concern. Due to this, elderly people and children are facing a lot of problems, especially the ones with breathing issues and those who have been infected with COVID-19. Since Diwali, there has been an increase of 10 to 15 per cent in the number of patients coming to the hospital, including those with breathing issues. Our emergency and OPD wards are receiving a lot of patients with breathing issues, a lot of them with dipping levels of oxygen. We had to provide nebulisation to many patients. This also includes an increase in the number of child patients with asthma, breathing problems and allergies,” Kumar told ANI.
Kumar said the level of PM 2.5 particles is very high in and around Delhi.
“It causes chest infection, irritation and other breathing issues,” he added. He said that increasing levels of PM 2.5 particles could enable the COVID-19 virus to stay in the environment for longer than its usual surviving period of five to seven hours.
“It has been proven in studies too. Pollution has caused six million premature deaths worldwide. It affects life expectancy and quality of life. It affects lungs, brain and overall health, as per WHO,” Kumar added.
He said that parents should be more aware of rising levels of pollution and methods to keep children safe from it and encourage children to wear masks, especially the ones suffering from asthma and allergies.
On being asked about masks to stay safe from pollution, Kumar said to ANI, “A simple three-layer mask can prevent pollution entering your nose and lungs by 65 to 95 per cent.” When asked about a slight rise in COVID-19 cases amid high levels of air pollution, he said,
“A marginal level of increase has been witnessed. LNJP currently has six COVID-19 patients, out of which three are from outside Delhi. People are coming to Delhi from other states. They are not following COVID appropriate behaviour thinking that the pandemic is over. It is not over yet. We need to be careful.”
Kumar informed ANI that LNJP hospital currently has around 38 confirmed dengue patients and 40 suspected patients.
“Number of new patients admitted in last two-three days has decreased as compared to earlier. As per our previous experiences, cases will decrease in seven to ten days as the temperature is decreasing. This reduces the breeding of mosquitoes. Most of our patients are recovering though two are critical,” he added.