At containment zone, central team not happy.... Members of the Inter-MinisterialCentral Team (IMO') visited the containmentzone inWard-47 in Siliguri and found people violating norms

SNS, 28 April 2020, Siliguri: Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) seemed displeased as its members visited the containment zone in Ward 47 in Siliguri today and found that people in large numbers were moving about by ignoring the restrictions and the lockdown orders.

The administration has set up a bamboo-made barricade to restrict the movement of people in the area, but people hardly pay heed to the same and are continuing with their normal activities, while also assembling without maintaining social distance, it is learnt.

The area has been virtually sealed following the death of a 53-year-old resident in the area of suspected Covid- 19 at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital on 5 April. The team later visited a health facility for suspected Covid-19 patient at Kawakhali, Ward 47, parts of Ward 1, and a tea plantation at Upper Bagdogra.

"We will apprise the state government of whatever we have observed. You all have seen the situation here," said the Advisor (Ops) to the National Disaster Management Authority and a member of the visiting central team, Brig Ajay Gangwar.

Brig Gangwar and Prof Shibani Dutta, who is head of the department of health promotion & education of the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, visited areas in the plains, while three other members led by Vineet Joshi, the additional secretary of the ministry of human resource development, reviewed the Covid-19 situation in Darjeeling Hills today.

In Ward 47, the team members inquired about the situation from a local grocery shop and sought to know if social distancing was being maintained. "The team members were visibly annoyed with the situation there," sources said. Earlier, they visited Desun Hospital meant for patients suffering from severe acute respiratory infection. They expressed satisfaction over the infrastructure of the hospital.

"There was an incident at the hospital where patients had agitated, perhaps for delayed test results, on 23 April. The issue has been sorted out and reports are delivered within 12 to 24 hours. The infrastructure is alright at the hospital," Brig Gangwar said.

At the Kamalpur tea garden, the team inquired about the arrangements, and whether the government order on engaging 25 percent of work force, and social distancing were being followed.The manager of the tea garden, Dibyendu Sekhar Roy, said they were allowing less than 70 workers out of the total workforce of 292 in the garden.

Hospital discharges two patients: Dr Chang's (Covid) Hospital in Siliguri today discharged two more patients undergoing treatment there for the past several days a fter they tested positive for the novel coronavirus. An NBMCH nurse and the mother in law of another nurse tested negative in the last two consecutive tests and were released today, sources said.

Another nurse undergoing treatment there has also tested negative in two consecutive tests. She, however, has to remain in the hospital for her 22-month-old baby who is also infected and undergoing treatment there, it is learnt.

Left Front protest: The Darjeeling district Left Front staged symbolic protests in Siliguri against the Centre and the state government for their policies to deal with Covid-19. Front leaders said narrow, communal and partisan politics were given priority instead of arranging for proper treatment and large scale tests. District convener of the Left Front Jibesh Sarkar said many migrant labourers had been stuck elsewhere and were starving.

TMC help desk:The Trinamul Congress has introduced a help desk to help people during the lockdown. Darjeeling district party president Ranjan Sarkar said the desk will be functional 24X7 through WhatsApp number 9800698006.

PPEs, masks donated: As doctors, interns, and house staff work for emergency dental services at the North Bengal Dental College and Hospital with inadequate protective gears. 24 PPE's and 2,000 masks were given to the college principal, Prof Satyabrata Mukherjee, following initiatives taken by the state secretary of the Indian Dental Association, Raju Biswas.

At the same time, to ease the blood crisis during the pandemic, the IDA state branch, along with the dental college students union, organised a blood donation camp in a mobile donation van in the Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Around 30 doctors as well as students donated blood in the camp attended by minister of state for health and family welfare, Chandrima Bhattacharya, sources said.