The health department will carry out random sample tests, even of
persons without symptoms, in containment zones in Wards 40, 41, 42 and
43 under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The health department has
already completed surveys on persons suffering from the severe acute
respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza- like illness (ILI) and tests
on 14 such persons have been conducted.
“The health department has already conducted surveys to identify
people with symptoms related to SARI and ILI. Swab tests were also
conducted in some cases, but no fresh case has been found after the four
persons in Ward 41 were found positive early last month. Now we will go
for random tests of throat swab samples even of asymptomatic persons,”
said the officer on special duty for Covid- 19 in north Bengal, Dr
Suasnta Kumar Roy.
Experts have stressed on widening the ambit of random tests and
increasing it in crowded clusters to contain the spread of the disease.
Some public health experts said such a step will give an early
indication in the situation at the grassroots level.
On the other hand, according to the guidelines, a Covid- 19
containment zone refers to an area where positive cases of coronavirus
are found. The zones are created to map the local transmission of the
disease and prevent the contagion from spreading.
Officials said every confirmed case had to be considered as an
epicenter and micro-plan activities needed to be done. The area of
three-km radius around the epicentre (the residence of the positive
case) is demarcated. This area is the containment zone.
“If required, and based on the mapping of contacts and cases, the
containment zone is refined,” said a health department official. The
Siliguri wards were classified as containment zones after four relatives
living in ward 41 of a Covid-19 victim were found to be positive. They
have, however, been cured now. A Kalimpong woman who had returned from
Chennai was the first Covid-19 patient in the hill district.
The 44-year old woman died at the North Bengal Medical College and
Hospital on 30 March.Health department officials said random testing
might be conducted in other wards and areas, including those where most
of the floating population is located. Ventilators at Covid facility: As
preparations to have the first Covid hospital in Darjeeling Hills at
Triveni, near Kalimpong, kick off, the health facility will have five
beds with ventilators.
“The 100-bed facility will have 70 beds for suspected patients and 30
for positive patients. Among the 30, five beds will have ventilators
and other necessary arrangements. We are expecting it will be fully
prepared within three weeks,” Dr Roy said.
Malda woman discharged from hospital:A 60-year-old Malda woman was
discharged from the Dr Chang’s Hospital in Siliguri meant for treating
Covid-19 patients after being cured. She was admitted in the hospital on
29 April. Health department sources said 17 persons have been
discharged after recovery from the Covid hospital so far.
Also, an eye specialist of the North Bengal Medical College and
Hospital, who was tested positive after returning from Kolkata on 30
April, has tested positive in the second test too. However, the 21
doctors among the 26 medical staff, who had travelled with him in a bus,
have tested negative for Covid-19 in both the first and second tests.
Apart from the eye doctor, seven others are undergoing treatment at the
hospital presently.
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