Asok stress on healthworkers' safety - Four Covid patients die in Siliguri hosps- 47 in Kalimpong tested positive

SNS, SILIGURI, 10 AUGUST 2020: 

Asok stress on healthworkers' safety

Chairperson of the board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Asok Bhattacharya, has said that there should not be any compromise when it comes to the protection of health workers, especially those treating Covid patients.

Mr Bhattacharya also expressed concern over allegations that private nursing homes had been overcharging patients. "Many nursing homes are charging higher amount from the patients. Amidst such a situation, when exorbitant amounts are being charged, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission has capped the deposits at Rs 50,000 or 20 percent of the estimated bill, but the state government should see to it that people belonging to economically weaker sections should not face any harassment for treatment "he said.

Referring to the case of Ward 34,where a 66-year-old resident had been found to be re-infected with Covid-19 and died on 7 August, Mr Bhattacharya said hospitals should not release the patients immediately after they test negative.

He said they demanded special financial assistance from the state government as the civic body had a lot of expenditure to deal with the Covid -19 situation. The revenue collection of the corporation had also been hit, he said.

Four patients die

Two residents of South Dinajpur district, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died at the dedicated Covid hospital at Kawakhali here today. A 38-year-old resident of Balurghat was admitted after he was referred by the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) yesterday. Another 60-year-old person from Gangarampur was admitted on 5 August. She was also referred by the NBMCH. A 66-year-old resident of Ward 29 in Siliguri also died in a private nursing home today, while a resident of Kishanganj in Bihar died at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital last night. His swab samples confirmed he had Covid -19.

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) area, on the other hand, recorded 66 positive cases in the past 24 hours, sources said.

A total of 89 cases were detected in Darjeeling district today, including 43 in the SMC, 11 in Naxalbari, 18 in Matigara, five in Darjeeling Municipality, one in Kharibari, one in Bijanbari, one in Kurseong, one in Sukna, one in Sukhia Pokhari and seven in Phansidewa. Also today, 21 patients were discharged front treatment facilities, officials said.

The Darjeeling district administration has declared some areas in wards 2, 15,17 and 29 in the SMC and in Pulbazaar in the Hills as broad containment zones.

Malda cases up again

After yesterday's respite with only 35 Covid cases, 98 fresh cases have been detected in Malda in tests conducted in the VRDL in the Malda Medical College and Hospital last night. A major chunk of the new cases arefrom Ratua II block with 49. Around 100 cases have surfaced in the block in the past three days. Some of the fresh cases were also detected in blocks like Manikchak, Chanchal-I, Gazole, Harishchandrapur, Kaliachak, Old Malda and Bantongola.

46 in Kaiimpong district

In Kalimpong in the Hills, 46 persons were tested positive for the virus in Kalimpong district. One of the new patients belongs to the Kalimpong Municipality area, the remaining are residents of Melli and Rambhi areas, sources said. All of them were taken to the Disha Safe House in Kalimpong town and the Tribeni Covid Hospital near Teesta.