Concern as covid cases rise in N Bengal ....Dedicated SARI hospital turns away patient from correctional home as he had a police guard with him

SNS, 24 May 2020, Siliguri:  Lack of infrastructure to take in inmates with police guard at the dedIicated health facility for suspected Covid-19 patients in Siliguri has given rise to questions. The matter came to the fore after an undertrial man was allegedly denied admission at Desun Hospital landing the authorities of the Siliguri Special Correctional Home in the tight spot throughout the day yesterday.

'The man was finally admitted in the isolation ward of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in the evening yesterday.

The state government has taken over Desun Hospital at Kawakhali for treatment of patients suffering from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI).

Sources said an inmate of the home was suffering from fever and respiratory problems yesterday and was first taken to the Siliguri District Hospital, which referred him to the NBMCH. The NBMCH, in turn, referred him to Desun Hospital, where authorities allegedly turned down his admission request because of lack of infrastructure to accommodate the police guard.

"Therefore, he was taken back to the Siliguri hospital, but as he needed better treatment, he was again taken to the Desun Hospital The drama "I have received the information. It is mandatory to keep such patient with a police man. But Desun Hospital refused admission and cited lack of infrastructure to accommodate the police guard. I do not know what exactly happened in the case. However, I will seriously look into the issue." Dr Acharya said.

Asok concerned about cases in slums:

The chairman of the board of administrators at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation Asok Bhattacharya, has expressed concerns after the detection of Covid- 19 cases in slums in Siliguri.

Three positive cases were found in such areas in wards 6 and 4. A 29-year-old man from Ward 4 was tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday. On 18 May, a fruit seller of Ward 6 was found positive, while his seven year- old son was also infected. "The number of infected persons has increased recently.The matter of concern is that some positive cases have been found in slums. We are worried about it."Mr Bhatticharya said.

According to him, many people who had travel history were not following the health department guidelines.

"They are supposed to remain in either institutional or home quarantine, but it has been noticed that some are flouting the guidelines. I request them to stick to the health guidelines," he added.

Mr Bhattacharya said that although the number of tests had increased, many samples were waiting their turn at the VRDL at the NBMCH. He requested the health department to expedite the process.

He further said that there should be proper monitoring of migrant workers who are returning in droves.

"Efforts should be made to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in slums. I would ask sanitary inspectors and ward coordinators (former councillors) to disinfect adjacent slums if a case is found in one," Mr Bhattacharya said.

Restrictions lifted:

On the other hand the administration today lifted the 'containment zone' order from the Santiniketan Housing Complex near the NBMCH. The apartment is as declared a containment zone after an NBMCH nurse tested positive for Covid-19 in early April. Larer, her mother, daughter and husband were also infected.

Darjeeling district magistrate S Poonambalam said the restrictions lasted more than a month and that a survey to identify SARI and ILI was carried out and samples tested. "But no positive case has been reported during the period," he said. There are now two containment zones in Sliguri- Wards 6 and 27.

Three discharged from Covid hospital:

Three Covid-19 patients, including an eye-specialist of the NBMCH and an ambulance driver from Chennai, were discharged from Dr Chang's Super Specialty Hospital after they recovered today.

11 more in Malda:

The total number of Covid patients in Malda has goneup to 98, with 11 fresh cases reported among migrant workers. Sources said most of these men belong to Kaliachak. On the other hand, BJP MP from North Mald, Khagen Murmu. has alleged that the state government had been hiding the actual statistics of the affected persons. On the other hand, former state minister Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury has expressed concerns over the rising cases in Malda. He has urged people to be more cautious.

South Dinajpur reports one more case:

In South Dinajpur, one more coronavirus patient was found in the Gangarampur block yesterday evening, taking the number of positive cases to six in the district. Five others were admitted in hospitals with Covid-19 symptoms in the same block, while 400 throat swab samples have been sent to Malda for tests, it is learnt.