Answers to some questions on the coronavirus When to visit a doctor

Subhajoy Roy, TT, 15 March 2020, Calcutta: The spread of the coronavirus in India has raised many questions in people’s minds.

What does an individual need to do and should know to stay safe?

The state government has declared all education institutions will remain shut from Monday to March 31.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the government had marked two facilities in the city where 300 to 400 people can be kept in isolation if the need arises.

The Telegraph tries to answer some of questions.

When to see a doctor?

Persistent cough, fever with a cough or shortness of

breath warrants immediate medical attention, internal medicine specialist Rahul Jain said.

He said coughing blood, along with chest pain, feeling so weak that one cannot walk to the restroom or fever with chills and cold were some of the common symptoms of the virus.

The website of the World Health Organisation (WHO) says “people with fever, cough and difficulty in breathing” should seek medical attention.

Which hospital?

The Beleghata ID hospital is the main referral hospital for infectious diseases in Bengal and has expertise in handling the coronavirus. But there are other hospitals, too, that are prepared.

The state health department website mentions the following hospitals as equipped to handle covid-19 cases:

⚫Calcutta Medical College and Hospital

⚫RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

⚫NRS Medical College and Hospital

⚫Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital

⚫SSKM Hospital

⚫Dr BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences in Kankurgachhi

⚫College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital in Kamarhati,

⚫Howrah District Hospital

⚫Satyabala Infectious Diseases Hospital near Salkia in Howrah

⚫College of Medicine and JNM Hospital in Kalyani

⚫Imambara District Hospital in Hooghly

⚫Arambagh Sub-division Hospital in Hooghly

⚫Basirhat District Hospital

⚫Diamond Harbour Government Medical College and Hospital

⚫Kakdwip Sub-division

Hospital

⚫Medinipore Medical College and Hospital

⚫Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital

⚫Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital nPurulia Government Medical College and Hospital

⚫Malda Government Medical College and Hospital

⚫Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital

⚫Raiganj Medical College and Hospital

⚫Coochbehar Government Medical College and Hospital nAlipurduar District Hospital

Admission process

Since no one has tested positive in the state till Saturday and the number of people whose samples have been taken for tests is low, all hospitals are likely to refer a person with symptoms to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Beleghata.

If there is a need, more isolation facilities can be created, a health department official said. All the hospitals are, therefore, prepared to handle COVID-19 cases.

If the situation worsens, the government may declare buildings in hospitals as isolation facilities, thereby increasing the number of isolation beds in a very short time.

Private hospitals

A state health department official said private hospitals in the city had been asked to keep their isolation facilities and treatment protocol ready. But at this stage, all private hospitals are likely to refer a person showing any or every symptoms of the coronovirus to the Beleghata ID hospital. But if the numbers increase and the Beleghata hospital gets crowded, private hospitals, too, will start admitting such people, the health department official said.

Patient count

The health department’s website mentioned that till Friday samples had been taken from 50 people and none had tested positive for covid-19.

Home surveillance

There were 1,977 people under home surveillance in Bengal on Friday.

How many in hospital?

There were six people in hospital isolation on Friday.

Home or hospital?

People who have arrived from countries hit by the coronavirus or those are in contact with any person who has tested positive in another state but do not have any symptoms of the virus are advised to remain in home isolation.

Those who show symptoms of the infection have to go to hospital.

If the doctor feels a test is required, the person will be kept in hospital isolation till test results have arrived. If the result is negative, doctors will tell the person what to do before discharging them from hospital.

Home surveillance

Internal medicine specialist Rahul Jain said home quarantine meant the person showing symptoms of the virus should remain in a room that is isolated from others and has good ventilation. Only one caregiver should approach the person daily for essential needs. At the time of meeting, the caregiver should wear hand gloves and face mask. The person with symptoms should wear a mask. And they should maintain distance between themselves while interacting.

Office precautions

Ask anyone who is coughing or sneezing to cover their face with a piece of cloth, Jain said. Cloth absorbs the virus and minimises chance of transmission. Someone with full sleeve shirts can cough in the crook of the arm. Those with half sleeves should cough near the shoulder.

Do not touch nose, eyes and mouth after holding the handrails in escalators. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before eating or touching anything.

What is the test?

Only swab tests are being done.

Where to do the test?

At the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Beleghata and at SSKM Hospital. A health department official said if the situation arose more testing facilities would be opened in the city and in other parts of the state.

Sample check at NIV

A health department official said that tests at the Beleghata hospital or at SSKM can only tell if the person has the coronavirus infection. If the samples test positive, further tests are needed to know which group of the virus has infected the person. To know whether the person was infected by covid-19 (one in the coronavirus group), the sample has to be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for confirmation.

Restaurants

Follow the coughing etiquette. Don’t sneeze or cough anywhere.

What can I do?

Do not hide or evade going to hospital if you have symptoms. By doing so, you are putting the lives of your family members, friends and anyone who comes in contact with you at risk.

You would be acting as an agent in spreading the infection.

Report to hospital as soon as you feel you have any of the symptoms and ask anyone who has a symptom to do so.

Helpline numbers

Yes, there are 24x7 helpline numbers. The state’s numbers are 1800-313-444-222 and 033-2341 2600; Union health ministry: +91-11-23978046

How will it help me?

People operating the helplines have been given phone numbers of doctors. If you have symptoms and the person taking your call feels you need a doctor’s advice, they will call a doctor and arrange for a conversation with you.

The helpline is meant for self-reporting.