Local bodies told to be ready with transport plan

Transportation facilities for people to COVID-testing centres and related emergencies

The Local Self-Government Department has asked local bodies across the State to be ready with a ‘transport plan’ to ensure adequate transportation facilities for people to and from COVID-testing centres and related emergencies. The order comes at a time when councillors in various local bodies have been raising concerns about the lack of sufficient transportation for those who want to get tested. The local bodies have to provide transportation to take those who are suspected of having contacted the virus to and from testing centres, take those who need to be admitted to domiciliary care centres (DCC) or Covid First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTC) or hospitals and to health workers to and from vaccination centres. Any emergency help required by those remaining in home quarantine also needs to be provided. The LSGD has stipulated that each local body should have a transport plan based on size, population, and the current rate of increase in positive cases in the specific local body. One or more persons should be given the responsibility of coordinating these activities. Grama panchayats should have a minimum of five vehicles, municipalities 10, and corporations 25 vehicles.