Amid the spurt in COVID-19 positive cases, the Kerala government has decided to form a COVID-19 Brigade .?
State Health Minister K K Shailaja stated, "Experts have opined that during the months of August and September we may witness a surge in COVID-19 cases. We may report between 10,000 to 20,000 cases per day."
The main aim of the COVID-19 Brigade is to mobilise additional manpower other than the health department staff.
As reported by NDTV, many young people have volunteered for the service.
Al-Akheem - a lab technician in his early 20s - told NDTV, "We are very proud to be part of this team. Our families stand by us. This is for our country," he said after a role-orientation programme at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, where the team did mock drills of crucial life support demonstrations.
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According to NDTV, over 10,000 medical practitioners have signed-up for the COVID?Brigade - a paid-for COVID-specific task force including doctors, nurses, lab technicians and even those from social work and business management background.
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The state-paid salary varies from???25,000 to???60,000 depending on the field of expertise and skill set.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on July 23, announced the formation of the 'COVID Brigade' consisting of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and volunteers to man the First Line Treatment Centres (FLTC).?
"More people are needed to strengthen COVID defensive operations in view of the rising numbers of cases. We have worked out an integrated action plan," Vijayan had said.??