Nurse, Husband and Mother-in-law tests positive: Coronavirus tests stall at NBMCH; test kits sent back to NICED for quality check

SNS, 15 APRIL 2020, SILIGURI: The mother-in-law of a nurse who has tested positive for Covid- 19 at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri also tested positive for the novel coronavirus today. 
Meanwhile, throat swab tests could not be conducted at the VRDL at the NBMCH today, while all samples were sent to the ICMR-NICED in Kolkata. Health department officials cited technical reasons.

The laboratory has been facing a shortage of testing kits for the past few days.According to Dr Gopal Krishna Dhali, a Kolkata-based doctor who is in North Bengal to coordinate and monitor Covid-19 health service; on behalf of the state government, said the NBMCH today sent back some test kits to the ICMR-NICED for quality check.

All family members of the nurse have been quarantined, while her husband too tested positive for Covid- 19 yesterday.

Sources said the swab of her one-year-old child has been sent to NICED for confirmation.

Meanwhile, health care providers at Desun Hospital in Siliguri were imparted training on how to deal with suspected Covid-19 patients.'The government has taken over the private hospital at Kawakhali in Siliguri for the treatment of suspected Covid cases Health department sources said they will start admitting patients there either from tomorrow or the day after.

Mayors concerns

Siliguri Mayor Asok Bhattacharya today said it was shameful that a section of people, including some Left activists, were encouraging "unscientific thoughts" He was referring to protests against opening of private hospitals for suspected Covid-19 patients and objections from the local people on cremating persons who died of the disease. Mr Bhattacharya said it was a matter of concern that even in the 21st century, "unscientific opinions" still existed in towns like Siliguri.

"During a fight against a pandemic, what we have realised is that many people are guided by emotions instead of logic, reason and science. Many progressive minds, educated persons are losing logic, which is not acceptable.There could be differences of opinion but when we are passing through a critical situation we need to follow the guidelines," he said.

Local people, including Siligur Deputy Mayor Rambhajan Mahato and CPI-M councillor Snigdha Hazra, had staged protests near the Medica North Bengal Clinic at Pradhannagar, opposing the facility for treatment of suspected patients on 10 April.

Similar protests were held near Desun Hospital on 12 April, and police have arrested four persons, including two officials of the nursing home and two protesters, including the elder brother of the Sabhadhipati of the Left-run Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad. On 16 March, a protest was staged under the banner of the Hatighisa Nagarik Mancha against setting up a quarantine facility at the Civil Defence Resource Centre near Siliguri. Local CPI-M activists had led the protests.

CPI-M demands more tests

The CPI-M today demanded "aggressive testing" rapid antibody-based tests, and quick medical treatment to counter Covid -19.

The party said steps are far from satisfactory in the state. It has also demanded that data and information related to the number of tests conducted, number of affected patients and number of deaths be made public with transparency.

Darjeeling district party secretary Jibesh Sarkar said large -scale testing was required to reduce the death rate.

The party served a 10-point memorandum to the administration here today.

"The infrastructure of the NBMCH should be upgraded. We also believe that the locals must be taken into confidence while private hospitals are taken over for Covid treatment purposes," Mr Sarkar said.

The party also expressed concerns over violation of the lockdown at some places in Siliguri and said there should be 'useful' coordination among the state health department, local administration, civic bodies, and rural bodies.

BDO office extends help 

The Matigara Block Development Officer's (BDO) Office donated Rs 1.14,500 to the West Bengal State Emergency Relief Fund to fight the pandemic. BDO Runu Roy handed over the contribution to state tourism minister Gautam Deb here today.