In a move to prepare for a possible deeper crisis with COVOD-19 cases rising, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday directed officials to hire doctors without waiting for government's permission.
This directive came at a meeting with the ministers in charge of the Mandya and Chikkaballapur districts and senior officials to discuss the COVID-19 situation.
According to sources, Yediyurappa asked officials to be prepared for a deeper crisis. Even retired doctors can be hired, the CM said, urging officials to pay them competitive salaries.
"First hire doctors and then send the files," he said. These doctors would be in service until the crisis passes. That apart, he also asked officials to increase the number of beds in all hospitals by at least 50.
While observing that the cases were increasing with people outside the state entering Karnataka, he asked officials to ensure that nobody from other states entered the state border until May 31.
Meanwhile, officials also impressed upon the CM to create a separate section for management of the pandemic by appointing a secretary-rank official. Since ministers and officials of different departments have been roped into dousing the COVID-19 crisis, all other works are pending, officials pointed out.
(Published 22 May 2020, 17:12 IST)
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